Summary
Microsoft has plenty of older gaming franchises in its wheelhouse, andXboxhead Phil Spencer is interested in reviving some of them in the future. Xbox’s collection of blockbuster video game IPs recently grew thanks toMicrosoft’s massive buyout of Activision Blizzard, which was finally closed earlier this month after going through global regulatory channels for almost two years. Even before this potentially industry-altering merger, Xbox has been home to noteworthy studios like Rare and Bethesda, the latter of which recently launched its first new franchise in 25 years with the sci-fi RPG hitStarfield.
While Bethesda and other Xbox-owned developers are looking to the future, Phil Spencer has hinted that his company might be looking to bring back a few old favorites from the past. Duringthis summer’s Xbox Games Showcase, the head of Xbox was seen wearing a t-shirt with the logo of Raven Software’s gothic FPSHexen, and he has frequently teased the possibility of making a new entry in the series. This is just one of the older properties that Microsoft now owns the rights to, and Spencer recently reiterated his desire to see Xbox dig through the vault over the next few years.
During his latest appearance on the Official Xbox Podcast, Phil Spencer discussedthe recently finalized Activision Blizzard buyout, as well as the company’s approach to figuring out which franchises to revive. He says that Xbox isn’t pressuring its developers into making titles they aren’t interested in, but he often asks them what old IP they would like to bring back. “I feel that we have to be a great custodian for the content that we touch,” Spencer added. “These are memories for people on different platforms, different decades, and I want to make sure that when we’re going back and visiting something that we do it with our complete ability.”
Spencer also brought upXbox Game Pass as a possible outletfor older franchise revivals that might not warrant an intensive, triple-A reboot. He also stated that it would be some time before Activision Blizzard titles start appearing on Game Pass due to Xbox not knowing if the buyout would be authorized until it was finally completed. This would theoretically include past Activision Blizzard hits likeGuitar Heroand theTony Hawkseries, both of which haven’t seen new entries in years.
This might change now that Microsoft owns Activision Blizzard, and Phil Spencer is fully on board for reviving classic titles likeHexenandSpyro the Dragonunder theXboxumbrella. Of course, this would depend on Spencer finding developers passionate enough about these old franchises to give them the comeback that fans have been hoping for – whether that comes as a full-blown triple-A sequel or a smaller Game Pass exclusive.
