DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
What, are you talking about. MS isn't chasing AI...Co pilot told me!
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[The Verge] Inside Microsoft’s big Xbox leadership shake-up
- Thread starter Topher
- Start date
What, are you talking about. MS isn't chasing AI...Co pilot told me!
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
ProtoByte
Banned
Like, not to get woke, but Glass Cliff and Blame it on the Black Chick at the same time is absolutely insane.
Loomy
Thinks Microaggressions are Real
Human embodiment of a cockroach, apparently. I don't get how he keeps surviving these.
thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
I will say, if it's actually beyond marketing, then I think there's a non-zero chance they do renege on the multiplat strategy. Which, well, would be quite something to see.
SIE kind of are in an odd spot IMO, given the problems with parts of their internal software pipeline and having closed down studios like Bluepoint, not to mention way less 3P exclusives compared to last gen and them having also put a lot (majority) of their games on Windows & Steam. Then you've got Steam growth and Valve coming with the Steam Machine, and Nintendo doing strong with Switch 2 (outside of somewhat weaker American sales, they're still on track to hit forecast targets) and the vast majority of their big releases still not out yet.
Even studios like Naughty Dog are scrambling to get internal demo builds of Intergalatic up after Druckmann pissed away some years for an HBO Show that tanked itself in its second season.
IF Microsoft decided to go back to a real push for a traditional console model (including exclusives) for Magnus, and actually desire to price it competitively....that could put a genuine squeeze on PlayStation next gen if SIE don't get all their ducks back in a row.
Yeah NGL this is a terrible look for Microsoft to push. Obviously, some of the blame for where Xbox is at right now falls on Bond, but Warren's out here making it seem like neither Booty, Spencer, OR Nadella have any of the blame whatsoever. Or even Amy Hood and Brad Smith. Just 100% on Sarah Bond, which is absolutely bonkers considering this isn't a one-man show nor did she have the highest rank within the Xbox division.
I expect nothing less from a corporation that had Washington senators peddling FUD about PlayStation during the ABK circus a few years ago, though, or their history of other slimy astroturfing practices. And maybe this'll get some of the white-knighting idiots at ResetERA to finally realize that companies like Microsoft DO NOT CARE ABOUT BEING PROGRESSIVE; IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN VIRTUE-SIGNALING ON THEIR PART!!
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Insanemaelstrom
Member
Really hard to respect the so called "games journalist". I have never seen a retirement wherein a ceo announced it on Friday and leaves on Monday. There is always a gap, a handover period. CEOs, especially good ones, are required to train their successor.
Even Jim Ryan got months after his "retirement" announcement. Also, how convenient that Bond also "opted to resign" alongside him.
Personally I think they were both fired. The fact that Amy Hood directly blamed Xbox for MS's bad financial report directly to shareholders, points towards it.
Even Jim Ryan got months after his "retirement" announcement. Also, how convenient that Bond also "opted to resign" alongside him.
Personally I think they were both fired. The fact that Amy Hood directly blamed Xbox for MS's bad financial report directly to shareholders, points towards it.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
I mean, it was literally her doing so I can see why. If this article is correct.....which it all seems to be quite in line with how this stuff normally goes down.
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saintjules
Gold Member
Don't you mean Phil? There's no info online of her using it.
StereoVsn
Gold Member
On one hand both Bond and Spencer were a failure. On the other hand blaming this all on Bond is kind of ridiculous.
And finally, getting a random young exec who job hopped like crazy, was at MS for a short time, and lacking credentials to do anything with the industry or scale to lead a 20,000+ people team at Xbox is crazy.
A shit show all around and I am getting some popcorn.
And finally, getting a random young exec who job hopped like crazy, was at MS for a short time, and lacking credentials to do anything with the industry or scale to lead a 20,000+ people team at Xbox is crazy.
A shit show all around and I am getting some popcorn.
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bighugeguns
Member
Wow, careful, man, you don't know who posts on Gaf.
Tiago Rodrigues
Member
She wasn't even Xbox number 1...it's crazy lmao.Sure blame it all on Sarah
Topher
Identifies as young
Sure, but she works for Phil Spencer. He could have said "fuck that. this is stupid". He's to blame as well for that nonsense.
SneakersSO
Member
While its true that even Spencer wasn't on board with the 'Everything is an Xbox' campaign itself, Xbox HW sales were tanking going into it, and he did buy into Project Latitude once it essentially saved the SW side of the business.
I would at least question whatever MS marketing person who is pushing the narrative angle of 'this is Bond's fault' to then ask if MS then intends to fulfill Bond (and Spencer's) upcoming vision for Xbox HW. Seems a bit silly to say it was all her fault, then continue the massive bet she was making....
I would at least question whatever MS marketing person who is pushing the narrative angle of 'this is Bond's fault' to then ask if MS then intends to fulfill Bond (and Spencer's) upcoming vision for Xbox HW. Seems a bit silly to say it was all her fault, then continue the massive bet she was making....
SEGAvangelist
Member
She's being thrown under the bus, but she absolutely deserves being canned for creating the "This is an Xbox" campaign. LOLSure blame it all on Sarah
Of course you showed up. LOLOLOLOLOL
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DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Especially the massive cult of personality they made with Phil Spencer for well over a decade.
It would've been a spectacle by them if things were going well.
They'll let the flames blow over and bring him back as a guest to the Anniversary event like some rock star.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
Oh yeah, but navigating an 80 billion dollar take over is going to take your time up, you gotta put trust and faith in your staff to cover while you are doing that.
When you hire these people you listen to their pitch and you sign it off. He signed this off, so he is to blame of course but this was all clearly Sarah's stamp going by this article.
ShaiKhulud1989
Gold Member
Jim Ryan was given a full quarter before his retirement, yeah. And even after that there was a transitional CEO to prepare a proper team.
Not 'well leave on monday my dude and dudette' kind of stuff.
digoutyoursoul
Member
What about the failings before her? I am not defending her here , to me it seems these journalists are putting friendly relations before objectivity.
bighugeguns
Member
It's brilliant, let Phil step off with dignity and grace (deserved, he's still a bro), people will forget about Bond in a week, they'd never have stopped talking shit about Phil were the roles reversed. You've seen how obsessive people got with the guy. This is pretty baller PR work.On one hand both Bond and Spencer were a failure. On the other hand blaming this all on Bond is kind of ridiculous.
And finally, getting a random young exec who job hopped like crazy, was at MS for a short time, and lacking credentials to do anything with the industry or scale to lead a 20,000+ people team at Xbox is crazy.
A shit show all around and I am getting some popcorn.
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Dr. Samuel Hayden
Member
So TLDR the DEI hire ruined Xbox.
Truly shocking.
Truly shocking.
Topher
Identifies as young
Microsoft needs to make a choice. Either make their console the center piece of their gaming strategy or give that shit up and go full third party, no more hardware. So for "return to xbox" to mean anything then they have to reevaluate their entire strategy. I don't see that happening. I think "return to xbox" is just marketing. Hope I'm wrong though. As I've said elsewhere, I think the industry needs to a strong Xbox. I'm just not sure Asha is the one to do that
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
StereoVsn
Gold Member
Yeah, as the head of the overall division he should have put the stop to "This is an Xbox" stupidity.
Sure, he was doing a lot of shit, but this is a huge shift and there is no way he wasn't fully briefed, aware and should have thought through repercussions.
JohnnyFootball
GerAlt-Right. Ciriously.
This is clearly a hit piece and while I don't doubt a lot is true, i actually kinda feel bad for Bond…
Almost.
Almost.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
We have heard from multiple sources that Phil was known to be retiring as far ago as last August. Totally normal. The article explains why it broke like it did, which does tell us a lot.
Lots of failings at MS that fall solely at Phil's feet.
I am talking about this article and Sarah Bond, it all makes complete sense. She came in, tried to put her stamp on the business like many CEOs do and it didnt work. She had to deal with staff leaving and she rolled with what she thought was right under Phil's sign off.
Everyone was going on about how terrible that marketing campaign was "This is an Xbox" it was BAD. That, is what the article says was Sarahs contribution and Pappa Satya did not like it after seeing the backlash, simple as that.
GHG
Member
Insanemaelstrom
Member
There is no difference between them and MS pr.
Also typical gaslighting has already started. Phil was always meant to retire, he wasn't fired at all, even though MS clearly stated phil wasn't retiring anytime soon, not even a year ago.
Forget about what we said before, they were all lies, believe what we are saying now, we will never lie to you
ShaiKhulud1989
Gold Member
It's like the leader is carrying the weight of his team's descisions and his job is to evaluate everything that falls under his level of expertise.
Except for Phil. He gets a free pass because he was Just a Gamer With a Dream, not the guy who basically spent 80 billion dollars to achieve Fable PS5 Release, Bethesda games in PS+ and PS5 BO7 bundles.
The more I think about it, the more moronic this article feels like.
GHG
Member
Sir, it was also Sarah's fault that Phil "retired".
Her ideas and methodologies exhausted him to the point where he could no longer continue.
digoutyoursoul
Member
My post was more about the article not what you said. My point is they are not recognising his failings are they, it's like a PR piece for someone who has been friendly to them . The article stinks because the decline of Xbox has been a long one before her arrival. The relationship between Phil and the media is a highly questionable one in my opinion.
I watched a VGC stream a couple of months ago and one of them defended the man because he was a nice guy and has been nice to the press at events. Well what about the end product? They are so inward thinking how they call themselves journalists I don't know.
This plaudits for him don't match the end result for a lot of his time there and it's like being in the Twilight Zone or something.
Ahah so now the mastermind of Xbox everywhere was Sarah...when Nadella has stated countless times he didn't want exclusives and thought the console exclusivity model was dead.
Asha is the new hope of the renegade spirit
These shills are beyond pathetic, at some point dignity should kick in...instead
Asha is the new hope of the renegade spirit
These shills are beyond pathetic, at some point dignity should kick in...instead
ProtoByte
Banned
Skepticism feels inadequate as a word for this.
Shifting away from multiplatformism would require literally undoing everything Xbox has been doing for the past 8 years.
So you stop putting games on PS, Nintendo and PC platforms. You still have the Gamepass problem, which was ineffective enough on Xbox to actually prompt the spread of Xbox titles onto competing consoles. The only thing this achieves is "shrinking your reach". So you get rid of Gamepass - none of your games are enticing enough to even get played by pre-existing Gamepass subscribers, let alone bought.
Now you need to completely retrofit your studios to make genuinely appealing games for the 2026 and beyond market. Oops, you've promoted Matt Booty and have a group of teams that are so fat on current therapy-infected industry work culture and the safety of The War Chest that will not be happy with the reforms needed to do that.
And by the way, you've already spent the better part of 100 billion dollars to try and flip the games market on its head - now you want to burn well over a decade and who knows how much money attempting to revert back???
At this point I don't think the required parties could be convinced of that by Phil "corpo and press hypnosis master" Spencer. Now with him out of the picture?
As you and others have said, this article is a hit piece and damage control propaganda all at once. While I would theoretically like Xbox to get back into traditional console competition just to pressure Sony to stop with their own multiplatformist, studio mismanagement bullshit, I just cannot fathom a path where that starts for more than 5 minutes before Microsoft finally just shuts everything down.
On the plus side, we don't necessarily need a competitive Microsoft for Sony to get a cold shower next gen. Both companies are setting themselves up for that on their own.
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kaizenkko
Member
So now they're going to stop pushing a multiplatform strategy and start focusing on the traditional console business? It will be funny to see the turnaround among Xbox fans.
But I really don't know how they're going to approach this strategy now. How will people believe in their direction? It feels like it changes every two years.
But I really don't know how they're going to approach this strategy now. How will people believe in their direction? It feels like it changes every two years.
I am confused. Satella was Phil's boss and Phil was Bond's boss. If they didn't like what she was doing why did they sign off on it? They invested billions in R&D for the magnus chip. Sounds like they are giving Bond powers her position didn't have. This sounds like a hit job an old fashioned one. Or maybe just maybe they see that Sony in their current financial state is vulnerable. If they are pushing consoles again and the Playstation 6 is not coming out until 2028 or later, they may see opportunity.
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IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
Yeah he likely told them he was leaving around the time the OG rumors came out of his retirement.
I said it in another thread, not every retired executive stays in their position for months. Some retire internally and then work it out. People really can't get past the fact they have 1 example (Jim Ryan) and think it always works that way.
MS is a kind of shady company so it makes sense they did it that way.
I said it in another thread, not every retired executive stays in their position for months. Some retire internally and then work it out. People really can't get past the fact they have 1 example (Jim Ryan) and think it always works that way.
MS is a kind of shady company so it makes sense they did it that way.
Zacfoldor
Gold Member
I can't fucking believe that like a week from 1 week ago they are officially throwing Sarah Bond under the fucking bus for every bad decision at Xbox and going in an entirely new direction.
This shit is fucking wild and I feel like I'm the only one appreciating this.
Wow, corporate shit is crazy yo. Fucking CRAZY bro. Apparently everyone hated Sarah Bond, lol. Apparently all of our Xbox roasts really hit home and internally everyone was seething at MS and it finally came to a head.
This shit is fucking wild and I feel like I'm the only one appreciating this.
Wow, corporate shit is crazy yo. Fucking CRAZY bro. Apparently everyone hated Sarah Bond, lol. Apparently all of our Xbox roasts really hit home and internally everyone was seething at MS and it finally came to a head.
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GHG
Member
It will never be forgotten that Phil got Warren to write a pro Microsoft/ABK acquisition article and then proceeded to quote him in official documents/submissions as an impartial source just weeks later.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
Guys worked for 30 years in this industry, is genuinely a gamer and is supposed to be a very nice person. News flash, you can be a nice person and people want to do things for you and still deliver a performance we have seen.
You don't talk about Phils failings in an article like this. this is an article about what happened on Friday. Be patient I am sure there will be lots of articles about what Phil did wrong.
It seems like your issue, like many peoples, myself included is with the "Journalists"
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kaizenkko
Member
The question is: maybe no one can bring Xbox back (in the traditional sense of the term — a traditional console, a traditional strategy).
They've changed strategies over and over again, and that complicates any decision they try to make. I don't see them going back to the traditional console model simply because… at this point, it would be extremely difficult. It would require hard, intense, and very long-term work — all of that for something that might only pay off in the future.
Microsoft's game lineup for the next two years is multiplatform. I don't see them suddenly changing that. This year they're releasing Forza, Halo, Gears, and Fable as multiplatform titles. How could they change that now? How could they climb out of the hole Phil and Sarah dug?
Even the best executive in the industry could be in charge, and it would still be a Herculean task. Imagine someone without experience in this sector. I would love to see Xbox return as a strong competitor to PlayStation, but unfortunately, I don't see that happening.
Insanemaelstrom
Member
No no, you don't understand. Poor phil and Satya were too busy (incompetent) and had no idea what Bond was doing (despite repeatedly making statements that it was their idea and how it was the next big thing and how everyother more successful company was antic due to following older (working) models)
Gaming "journalist". This reads like a Microsoft produced soap opera fed to their willing patsy that sanitizes the involvement of Microsoft execs and Phil, the actual head of the division, from the decisions taking place.
It was all Evil Sarah, she promised to kill Phil's family if he didn't lead all of the interviews pushing the strategy. Satya was so afraid of her, he openly supported the play everywhere direction that wasn't tied to consoles.
Microsoft is nothing but lies when it comes to their corporate strategy.
It was all Evil Sarah, she promised to kill Phil's family if he didn't lead all of the interviews pushing the strategy. Satya was so afraid of her, he openly supported the play everywhere direction that wasn't tied to consoles.
Microsoft is nothing but lies when it comes to their corporate strategy.
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DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
On one hand both Bond and Spencer were a failure. On the other hand blaming this all on Bond is kind of ridiculous.
And finally, getting a random young exec who job hopped like crazy, was at MS for a short time, and lacking credentials to do anything with the industry or scale to lead a 20,000+ people team at Xbox is crazy.
A shit show all around and I am getting some popcorn.
Yeah, this is going to be special to watch!
From one Glass cliff to another.........Maybe>?
It's genuinely pointless to post any more articles about any of this at even this early stage because it's clear that most of you decided you knew exactly what happened and why the minute the leadership changes were announced.
No amount of evidence will convince you otherwise from here on out so frankly what is the point of sharing any articles about it that don't completely align with what you instantly decided based on no evidence? There isn't any.
So all of these discussions will be pointless from now on. Look at the hysterical hostility to any suggestion that anything happened in a different way to what you assumed. Any articles making such suggestions will be sneered at and rejected and anything that even vaguely suggest any of your original takes will be grabbed onto as the "right and proper" reporting on this.
It's so obvious.
No amount of evidence will convince you otherwise from here on out so frankly what is the point of sharing any articles about it that don't completely align with what you instantly decided based on no evidence? There isn't any.
So all of these discussions will be pointless from now on. Look at the hysterical hostility to any suggestion that anything happened in a different way to what you assumed. Any articles making such suggestions will be sneered at and rejected and anything that even vaguely suggest any of your original takes will be grabbed onto as the "right and proper" reporting on this.
It's so obvious.
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Loomy
Thinks Microaggressions are Real
I hope he does. I want him to do a community presentation.
"How to survive corporate shakeups when you suck at your job"