As gamescom kicked off, I had the possibility for a fast sit down with our boss whereas we each visited Cologne. Phil is glad to be again – and he doesn’t simply imply at gamescom.
“We’re back – in terms of the production, the game development and the cadence of the games that are coming out,” he tells me. “And it feels great to be at [events like gamescom], getting to show what the teams are working on.”
There is a lot to see – particularly as that is his first in-person gamescom look since 2017. He’s contemporary from introducing never-before-seen Starfield gameplay alongside director Todd Howard, and visiting Xbox’s 50,000 sq. foot sales space. If there’s a single phrase to explain the vibe within the room, ‘exhilarated’ captures it:
“This is the biggest consumer game show that’s out there, [and it’s] been nice to see how gamescom has grown in importance. As a team, we looked at the opportunity: Starfield is coming out, Forza Motorsport’s following it, we have a lot of partners that wanted to have a presence, and we said, ‘Let’s go out, [have] 50,000 square feet for our booth.’ Make a statement: that Europe’s important; gaming is obviously important; and that we’re investing and we have a lot to show. I’m glad I got to come this year. And the response so far has been fantastic.”
This additionally appears like an inflection level – after reaffirming a dedication to releasing a first-party sport each quarter simply two months in the past, we’re making that promise a actuality:
“As we look forward in 2023 and to 2024, we have a lot of confidence – and we have a lot of games coming. So not only Starfield and Forza Motorsport, which are obviously the two this fall, but I have to shout out that I love the drop of Age of Empires IV on console that we did at Opening Night Live – that’s a game I’m gonna play a ton of. But you know, Ara: History Untold is in the booth. Towerborne is in the booth. We’ve got games like Hellblade II and Avowed coming.”
The Age of Empires IV second is Xbox’s third shock launch of the 12 months, after Hi-Fi Rush and the improved Quake II, each introduced at different occasions. I ask if that’s a case of wanting to avoid wasting surprises for exhibits outdoors of our Summer Xbox Games Showcase – however the reply is extra easy:
“So we actually need multiple beats now, because not every game can have a 45 minute Starfield Direct as part of our Showcase. But we need to have time to actually give the creators the time to tell their story, and what they’re shooting for. For multiple moments around the year – from Directs to the Showcase to here at Gamescom – it’s going to be important that we make use of those.”
Before we end our chat, Phil is especially eager to level out a private favourite on the Xbox sales space this 12 months. Having been made amid the context of the battle in Ukraine, STALKER 2 is playable at gamescom – a triumph in itself:
“We’re at a big gaming show, I like to talk about video games, and then you go talk to that team in terms of what they’ve been through, and it makes the discussion about video games seem almost irrelevant,” says Spencer. “In phrases of the life expertise, what they’ve needed to reside via in Ukraine. So to spend slightly little bit of time with the group – hear the place they’re at – are folks secure? And not all people is, or has been. And but they’re right here displaying their sport with delight.
“That kind of transcends what video games are about – it’s awesome that we’re here as part of it. I want STALKER 2 to come out, I want it to be great, but more than any of that I want that team to be safe. And I think building their game has created a rallying point for them, among other things […] With a lot of horrible stuff going on around them, they’ve had this thing – it could have been a video game, it could have been anything – but they’ve had this video game to kind of give them a center. We’ve tried to be a helpful part of their process, but it’s all been about them, and that conviction that they have. Having a STALKER 2 section in the booth, having it playable, having some of the team here – that’s pretty special.”
The traces to play STALKER 2 yesterday are testomony to that truth. But the pleasure of getting such a stacked line-up is that there’s one thing for everybody to attempt. Elsewhere on the sales space, I’d level out the likes of the primary ever playable construct of action-RPG Towerborne – learn our full preview on Xbox Wire – and the detailed overview to Ara: History Untold, a brand new tackle grand technique from many builders who labored on the Civilization sequence. And be sure to keep watch over Don’t Nod’s Jusant, which blew me away with its advanced, attractive climbing mechanics.
Gamescom continues right this moment – however when you’ve not been on the present, you don’t need to miss out. Check out all the pieces now we have throughout our three-day stream occasion.