Microsoft has dispelled rumours of Xbox chief Phil Spencer retiring within the wake of widespread layoffs on the firm. Spencer, who has led Xbox since 2014 and now serves as Microsoft Gaming CEO, won’t be retiring “anytime quickly”, the corporate mentioned in an announcement after the newest spherical of layoffs affected a number of Xbox studios and noticed a number of tasks cancelled.
Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Not Retiring
Rumours of the Xbox chief retiring surfaced following a tipster’s claim on Wednesday. Name of Responsibility channel @TheGhostOfHope mentioned on X that Spencer could be retiring as Microsoft Gaming CEO after the launch of the next-generation Xbox, with Xbox president Sarah Bond taking on.
In an announcement shared with The Verge, Microsoft rejected the declare outright. “Phil just isn’t retiring anytime quickly,” Kari Perez, head of Xbox communications, advised the publication. Microsoft communications chief, Frank Shaw, denied the rumour on X, as nicely, calling the claims a fabrication.
Spencer, an business icon who has been the face of Xbox for over a decade, joined the Xbox unit in 2001 after a number of roles at Microsoft. He was appointed as the top of Xbox, Xbox Stay, Xbox Music, Xbox Video and Microsoft Studios in 2014 and promoted to Microsoft Gaming CEO in 2022.
Microsoft and Xbox Layoffs
The query of Spencer’s retirement got here up after Microsoft introduced Wednesday it was shedding 4 % of its workforce — over 9,000 staff. The most recent spherical of retrenchment hit the corporate’s gaming division exhausting, with layoffs reported at a number of first-party studios, together with King, Raven Software program, Sledgehammer Video games, Uncommon, Halo Studios, Turn10 Studios and Zenimax On-line Studios.
The Xbox guardian additionally cancelled the Good Darkish reboot and shut down its developer, The Initiative. Different cancelled tasks embrace Uncommon’s action-adventure title Everwild and Zenimax On-line’s unannounced MMO. Xbox will even wind down a number of unannounced tasks throughout its portfolio.
Confirming the layoffs on the gaming division, Spencer, in a memo to staff, mentioned the choice would guarantee Xbox’s continued success sooner or later.
“I acknowledge that these modifications come at a time when we’ve got extra gamers, video games, and gaming hours than ever earlier than. Our platform, {hardware}, and recreation roadmap have by no means seemed stronger,” Spencer mentioned within the inner memo. “The success we’re seeing at the moment is predicated on robust choices we have made beforehand. We should make selections now for continued success in future years and a key a part of that technique is the self-discipline to prioritize the strongest alternatives.”