Phil Spencer, the CEO of Gaming at Microsoft, discusses the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard and King by Team Xbox. They explore Game Pass speculation and franchise expansion, talk about their favorite games, and express excitement for the future. They reflect on the journey, express gratitude, and emphasize the importance of listener feedback.
Phil Spencer is excited about integrating Activision Blizzard and King into Team Xbox, emphasizing the importance of fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all teams
Mobile gaming is a crucial aspect for Xbox's future, with Phil Spencer aiming to learn from Activision and Blizzard's success in this space and provide an excellent gaming experience across all platforms.
Deep dives
Xbox Welcomes Activision Blizzard and King
The official Xbox podcast celebrates the recent integration of Activision Blizzard and King into Team Xbox, emphasizing the importance of this development for gamers. Phil Spencer, the CEO of gaming at Microsoft, expresses his excitement about the future and the opportunity to work with the talented teams at Activision, Blizzard, and King. He discusses his plans to visit the various teams and listen to their feedback and ideas. Spencer also addresses the speculation surrounding the availability of Activision, Blizzard, and King games on Game Pass, stating that while there's no immediate announcement, long-term plans are in progress.
Mobile Gaming and Xbox's Future
Spencer acknowledges the importance of mobile gaming as a means to reach a wider audience and ensure Xbox's relevancy in the gaming industry. He shares his intention to learn from the successful teams at Activision and Blizzard, highlighting their achievements in the mobile gaming space with games like Call of Duty Mobile and Diablo Immortal. Spencer emphasizes the need to be relevant on the largest gaming platform, mobile, and to provide a great community and experience for players across all platforms.
Empowering the Teams and Maintaining Creativity
Spencer discusses his role in empowering the teams at Activision, Blizzard, and King, as well as other Xbox studios. He emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for teams to feel motivated, inspired, and heard. Spencer's goal is to foster a creative culture that delivers on the vision of the studios while listening to feedback from the community and constantly learning from smart individuals in the industry. He expresses excitement about revisiting and reviving beloved franchises, not just from Activision and Blizzard, but also from Xbox's extensive portfolio.
Facing the Future with Excitement and Appreciation
Spencer reflects on his journey with Xbox and his excitement for what lies ahead. He shares his passion for gaming and creating new opportunities for the gaming community. Spencer appreciates the support from the Xbox community and the dedication of the teams during the challenging times of the regulatory process. He expresses his gratitude for the collaborative efforts that made the integration possible and looks forward to the amazing opportunities that await Xbox and its fans.
This week we have a very special episode with Phil Spencer, the CEO of Gaming at Microsoft, who sits down with us to answer questions about Activision Blizzard and their teams joining the Xbox family.
00:00 Introduction
01:06 Welcome Activision Blizzard King to the team
03:26 Halo World Championships
07:37 Minecraft Live
09:07 Answering questions about Activision Blizzard King