Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stepping down

Phil Spencer has announced he is stepping down from his role as Microsoft Gaming CEO after 38 years.  His successor will be Asha Sharma, the current President of Microsoft’s CoreAI Product.

Phil Spencer says: 
It’s rare in life to know when a chapter is closing, but after 38 years at Microsoft, that moment has arrived for me. I’ve made the decision to retire and begin the next chapter of my life. It’s a milestone that’s given me a chance to reflect on the incredible journey I’ve been fortunate enough to share with so many of you.

I’m excited for [Asha Sharma] as she steps into the CEO role. She’s joining an incredible group of people; teams full of talent, heart, and a deep commitment to the players they serve. Watching her lean in with curiosity and a real desire to strengthen the foundation we've built gives me confidence that our Xbox communities will be well supported in the years ahead.
Thinking back to my start as an intern in 1988, I never could have imagined the path ahead. I’ve been lucky to work with so many passionate creators, partners, colleagues, and players across the industry; people who challenged me, taught me, and made this work full of joy and wonder.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this chapter. This community has meant more to me than I can say.
From here, I’ll keep doing what’s always mattered so much to me: cheering on the teams pushing this industry forward and playing alongside this incredible community. I'll see you online.

 There are some concerns about the announcement, since Asha Sharma has zero experience in Gaming and she is an executive for AI, a controversial tech in this day and age in the creative business. In a new statement from Asha, she mentions that they have no interest in making AI slop in games made under Microsoft:

Asha Sharma says:
We are witnessing the reinvention of play.

To meet the moment, we will invent new business models and new ways to play by leaning into what we already have: iconic teams, characters, and worlds that people love. But we will not treat those worlds as static IP to milk and monetize. We will build a shared platform and tools that empower developers and players to create and share their own stories.

As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop. Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by us.

The next 25 years belong to the teams who dare to build something surprising, something no one else is willing to try, and have the patience to see it through. We have done this before, and I am here to help us do it again. I want to return to the renegade spirit that built Xbox in the first place. It will require us to relentlessly question everything, revisit processes, protect what works, and be brave enough to change what does not.

What does this mean for the game IPs under Microsoft and those recently acquired by them, including the Spyro the Dragon franchise? Hopefully something good. In light of the changing of command, there will be no shaky layoffs for Xbox-owned studios. At least that’s something.

Microsoft and Toys For Bob reached an agreement on unannounced project

Toys For Bob and Microsoft announced they have reached an agreement for their first independent game. This raises speculation on what kind of game they are developing. Spyro fans are speculating that this unknown game is a new Spyro title.

During a recent townhall meeting described to us by sources familiar with the event, a staffer asked the panellists about Toys for Bob, given that they're now going independent separate from Microsoft and Activision. Toys for Bob's leadership was adamant about keeping the team together, and also about returning to the style of game the studio is known for. 

Microsoft referenced how they spun out Twisted Pixel in the past, as an alternative option to shuttering studios. Matt Booty, now leading Xbox's game content division, reportedly said that an agreement has now been reached between Xbox and Toys for Bob for their first game as an independent studio. However, he stopped short of describing exactly what it will be, although he did say something along the lines of, and I'm paraphrasing, "it will be similar to games Toys for Bob has made in the past."

The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning leaving the Xbox Store on July 29, 2024

Microsoft has announced they will be closing the Xbox Store on July 29, 2024. Spyro fans, if you haven't already, buy The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning, Dawn of the Dragon before the deadline. 

 Microsoft wrote:
"On July 29, 2024, Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com)"

"Between now and July 2024, you can continue purchasing games and DLC from the Xbox 360 Store and at the Xbox 360 Marketplace.

This change will not affect your ability to play Xbox 360 games or DLC you have already purchased. Xbox 360 game content previously purchased will still be available to play , not only the Xbox 360 console but also Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S devices via backward compatibility."

Can I still play my Xbox 360 games after July 2024?

Yes, you will still be able to play the games you purchased on Xbox 360. If you purchased the game digitally or have a physical disc, you can still jump in and play. If you’ve deleted a game that you have purchased, but you want to play again, you’ll still be able to re-download it.

What about multiplayer games via the Xbox network? Can I still play with my friends?

Yes. Even after July 2024, you will still be able to play games and connect with friends through multiplayer on the games you purchased, as long as the publisher still supports the online servers. You can still save your games and progress to the cloud, and if you choose to continue any of those available games on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S, those cloud saves will transfer over.

Can I still buy and play Xbox 360 backward-compatible titles?  

There is no impact to purchasing or playing backward-compatible Xbox 360 titles.  After July 29, 2024, you will still be able to purchase hundreds of great backward-compatible Xbox 360 and Original Xbox games and DLC on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox.com. We believe in celebrating gaming’s rich history and have worked hard to preserve as many games as possible through our backward-compatibility program. You can find the full list of backward-compatible titles here.

 For those who wish to continue playing Xbox 360 games on Xbox Series X|S, we’ve taken the time to enhance those titles so they look and play better than ever before, while staying true to the original version. You can play those Xbox 360 titles with FPS Boost, Auto HDR, and faster loading times.