Microsoft isn’t coming to the next-generation console wars to play. After being thoroughly trounced in the PS4 vs Xbox One battle, the company is promising a “bold” approach to battling the PS5 with the Xbox Series X.
Speaking to GamerTag Radio, the head of Xbox Phil Spencer said the surprise decision to unveil the Series X at The Game Awards was a sign the company plans to do things differently in the next generation.
The risky launch has put Microsoft on the front foot again, with gamers enthusiastic about the Series X compared to the backlash that accompanied the Xbox One launch event.
So, Spencer says Microsoft plans to seize the momentum and “think about things in a different way” as pertains to “every decision” it makes ahead of the Xbox Series X release later this year.
Related: Xbox Backwards Compatibility
He added (via Tom’s Guide): “Some of them we’ll get right and some of them we won’t, but we’re definitely not going to be meek: we’re going to be bold in what we’re gonna try to do.”
So, what was behind that decision to drop the video teaser for the Xbox Series X during The Game Awards? Well, Spencer says the decision was spearheaded by a member of the firm’s marketing team.
He added: “She just stood up in the room and said, ‘We should go do something bold, something we’ve never done before. Let’s face it, we’re not in the market position we wanted to be in for this last generation. I don’t think we’re going to disrupt and grow our business by doing what we’ve always done. Let’s go try to do new things.’
“It was cool to do it and I think the response has been great,” he said. “But to be completely honest with you, I could be sitting with you today and it could’ve been a disaster. You have to make those decisions and you make them without all the knowledge of how it’s going to play out.”
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
