Xbox Chief Phil Spencer Sets Sights on Epic Franchise Comebacks

Highlights

Xbox head Phil Spencer is interested in reviving older gaming franchises under the Xbox umbrella.

Xbox does not impose pressure on developers to create games they have no interest in. Instead, they are inquiring about which past intellectual properties (IPs) developers would be interested in reviving.

Xbox Game Pass could potentially serve as a platform for reviving older franchises that may not require a high-budget triple-A reboot. Additionally, there is a possibility of including Activision Blizzard titles in the future.

Microsoft is considering reviving some of its older gaming franchises in the future, now that it has acquired Activision Blizzard. Xbox's collection of blockbuster video game IPs has expanded with this massive buyout, which recently concluded after a lengthy regulatory process. Notably, Xbox already houses renowned studios like Rare and Bethesda, the latter of which recently released its first new franchise in 25 years called Starfield, a popular sci-fi RPG.

Despite looking ahead, Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, has dropped hints about potentially bringing back some beloved classics from the past. At the Xbox Games Showcase this summer, he was spotted wearing a t-shirt featuring the logo of Raven Software's gothic first-person shooter Hexen. Spencer has frequently alluded to the possibility of creating a new installment in the series. Hexen is just one of the older properties that Microsoft now owns, and Spencer has reaffirmed his desire to explore the company's extensive vault in the coming years.

During his recent appearance on the Official Xbox Podcast, Phil Spencer delved into the recently finalized Activision Blizzard acquisition and their strategy for selecting which franchises to revive. He emphasized that Xbox does not impose pressure on its developers to create titles that they have no interest in. However, he does frequently inquire about their preferences for resurrecting old intellectual properties. Spencer stated, "I believe that we must uphold our role as excellent custodians of the content we handle. These are cherished memories for individuals across various platforms and decades, and I am committed to approaching their revival with our utmost capability."

Spencer also mentioned the potential of Xbox Game Pass as a platform to revive older franchises that may not need a full-fledged, high-budget reboot. He acknowledged that it may take some time before Activision Blizzard titles are available on Game Pass as they had to wait for the completion of the buyout, which was uncertain. Among the possible titles that could be included are Guitar Hero and the Tony Hawk series, both of which have not seen new releases in quite some time.

However, with Microsoft now owning Activision Blizzard and with Phil Spencer's support, there is a possibility of revitalizing classic games like Hexen and Spyro the Dragon under the Xbox brand. The success of this initiative would largely depend on finding developers who are passionate enough about these older franchises to give them the revival that fans have been eagerly anticipating. Whether this revival takes the form of a high-budget sequel or an exclusive release on Game Pass remains to be seen.

Source: IGN