On the Official Xbox Podcast, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer stated he is “all in” for resurrecting popular IP that have fallen dormant over the years.
Following Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft is now owner of studios Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob, and Treyarch. The acquisition also makes them the keeper of well-beloved massive franchises, including Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone and World of Warcraft among others.
In regards to what exactly Xbox will do with the overwhelming amounts of both famous and cult-classic IPs in their hands, Spencer explained that while Xbox would not revive a series with little to no active fan base or an unmotivated team, he would readily support a studio determined to create the next game for a fallen franchise.
Spencer elaborates:
“I just don’t think that a team working on something that isn’t their passion leads to the best result. So I might have my list of things from my memories and history that I want to see made again. Everybody will.” He continued, When I just think about, not just about Activision-Blizzard-King, you add in Bethesda, you add in Xbox’s history, Rare… the amount of franchises that we now have in our portfolio is kind of inspiring, it’s daunting, I feel that we have to be a great custodian for the content that we touch. These are memories for people on different platforms, different decades, and I want to make sure that when we’re going back and visiting something that we do it with our complete ability — a motivated team that wants to go work on something and make a difference, not just create something for financial gain or create something for a PR announcement and not deliver.”
Spencer also mentioned Xbox Game Pass as a useful tool for revisiting older series and spreading it to a wider audience. Unfortunately, no Activision Blizzard franchises will be on the subscription service till at least 2024. Spencer explained that there is still work needed to be done within the acquisition before it can head over to Game Pass.
Spencer himself seems to be the motivated reviver he’s looking for in studios. He recently donned a Hexen shirt at the Xbox Games Showcase earlier in the year, and often brings it up in interviews. As Hexen is a Raven Software IP, Microsoft now holds ownership of it. With the acquisition, perhaps he can unite with fellow Hexen fanatics and bring the first-person fantasy shooter back into the spotlight it deserves.