With its acquisitions of gaming giants like Activision Blizzard and Bethesda, alongside the already impressive lineup from Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft has become a formidable force in the realm of game publishing. It’s juggling a slew of projects, some of which, like Rare’s Everwild and Undead Labs’ State of Decay 3, have been simmering for quite some time, with little information shared about their progress.
In a recent chat with Xbox Era, Phil Spencer, who helms Microsoft Gaming, downplayed any worries about these games languishing in development purgatory. Spencer highlighted the advantage of Microsoft’s massive scale, which allows them to provide sufficient time for developers to hone their craft and perfect their games.
When asked about the upcoming first-party titles he’s most excited about, Spencer pointed to State of Decay 3, Everwild, and the next intriguing project from Double Fine Productions led by Tim Schafer.
Reflecting on State of Decay, Spencer shared, “That series has held a special place for me since its inception.” He also touched upon the unique creative process at Double Fine, noting Tim’s collaborative approach with his team. As for Everwild, Spencer remarked, “It was great visiting Rare recently and seeing the strides they’re making.”
Spencer didn’t shy away from acknowledging the long periods of silence about these titles. “Yes, it’s been a while,” he admitted. “But we’ve been able to allocate them the time they need without feeling pressed, thanks to the breadth of our portfolio. This was a vision Matt Booty and I have chased for years, and now we’re making it happen. These teams are getting the time they deserve.”
Truly, Microsoft’s timeline leaves it in no rush to accelerate game releases. Their 2025 calendar is already brimming with anticipated titles like Obsidian’s Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, id Software’s Doom: The Dark Ages, Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight, Playground Games’ take on Fable, and the collaboration between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames for Ninja Gaiden 4. And, let’s not forget the inevitable new installment of Call of Duty.
Spencer’s enthusiasm also extends to the team at The Coalition, who are working on another long-awaited title, Gears of War: E-Day, the franchise’s first new release since 2019. “I’m headed there next week,” he shared with obvious excitement. “It’s sheer bliss to get an inside look when they open the doors for me.”
