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[IbizaPocholo]

Xbox ‘is pushing Phil Spencer to line up a successor’ | VGC

Phill Spencer has revealed in a new interview that he is considering his successor for the role of Xbox boss.

www.videogameschronicle.com

Phil Spencer has been a Microsoft employee for over three decades, and the company’s executive vice president of gaming since 2017.

“Clearly, as somebody who has been here for 33 years, I have more years behind me than ahead of me,” he told GQ. “But the longevity of this team, the sustainability of this team, there’s nothing that’s more important to me right now than that.”

Commenting specifically on succession, Spencer added: “You should do it when you think about the long-term health of the team. To make sure the team is in a good place. That the culture of the company is in a good place. And that we’re making the right decisions on who to bet on. That has got to outlive me.”

Later in the piece, Spencer discussed how his team views the future and revealed how Xbox flags its plans with various ‘Horizons’ based on their proximity.

‘Horizon One’ plans are things that are happening today, he said. ‘Horizon Two’ are projects happening in a year or three, and Horizon Three are big ideas that might not happen for five, or even ten years.

Spencer said that Horizon Three projects are bets that “probably won’t work”, but are important to have a team working on to ensure innovation thrives in the future.

“What I’ve learned is it’s also very risky not to do [take a risk],” he said. “You have to plant those seeds today. Because they’re not just going to ‘happen’. And you’re not able to buy innovation easily.”

 

[Hendrick's]

 

[isoRhythm]

I know a guy

 

[THE DUCK]

I'm available. As the forums most intelligent, articulate and funny poster, I think I'm a shoe in. Plus I already own an xbox.

 

[Jigsaah]

Please not Greenberg Please not Greenberg Please not Greenberg

 

[OptimistPrime]

The obvious choice is Sarah Bond.

 

[Ezekiel_]

This cult of personality phenomena is fascinating to watch unfold.

 

[elliot5]

VGC's title is clickbait because nowhere in Spencer's comments say Xbox or MS at large is pushing Spencer to line up a successor... Phil is talking about himself wanting to make sure there's a plan or good transition in place for whenever that time may come. Not like he's being forced out or planning on retiring soon.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

This cult of personality phenomena is fascinating to watch unfold.

Leadership always gets this tall poppy syndrome. I think you read too much into Phil being a self aware leader and planning for the future which leads to mistaking him as a megalomaniac or something. Also journalism sensationalise a bunch of this, read through it mate and probably a good idea to ignore titles of such articles before reading the content itself.

 

[Deleted member 471617]

Phil Spencer will probably retire once the next generation console releases in 2026-2028. My guess for who his successor will be is either Sarah Bond or Matt Booty.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Loads of green rats in their nest to pick from

 

[levyjl1988]

As long as they don’t hire a business person like Don Mattrick, you don’t want a repeat person who doesn’t care about the company, make money and bails on it. That fucker ruined the Xbox brand and a bunch of briskness ass hats who have their heads up their asses, we need more people passionate about the games and the future of the industry. Gamers hate loot boxes and exploitative shit, leave greed to others and have them fail.

 

[Imtjnotu]

 

[MrFunSocks]

We've got a topic on here about gamepass with dozens of people that claim to know more and be much, much, smarter than Phil Spencer. I'm sure they'll take their applications. Make sure to say just how much money game pass must be losing, really hammer it home to them.

 

[Sosokrates]

Phil spencer and Jim Ryan are 53,

Being head of playstation/xbox must be a demanding job and both of them must be pretty rich, retirement or moving onto something different is certainly something that seems pretty par for the course.

Andrew house stepped down at 52 and Reggie left at 60.

Its seems a pretty high turnover position, a bit like a president of a country.

I wonder who will take the crown at both xbox and playstation?
Maybe booty? Todd howard?

On the sony side maybe herman?

 

[TwiztidElf]

Succession planning is important.
After Mattrick, Microsoft clearly understand that they need someone who understands the industry.
I like Phil, but for me personally, I don't like the direction he's taken Xbox. But a lot of people do.
Honestly, I can't wait to see what he does after leaving Microsoft. I think it'll be fascinating. I doubt he'll disappear into the sunset. Gaming is too much in his blood.

 

[lh032]

hmm perhaps give don mattrick a chance again?

 

[Ghost of Caelid]

The obvious choice is Sarah Bond.

Yes...she's awesome.

 

[elliot5]

It'll be Sarah 100%

 

[nush]

Time to the The Rock part of the team before he's too old to make movies. He knows his stuff.

 

[Pull n Pray]

He's only 53, and I can't imagine there is a job out there that he is better suited for. But maybe he wants to retire when he is 60 and just play video games full time.

Sarah Bond seems pretty sharp and also passionate about the hobby.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

While it's not a bad idea to have a clear line of succession, I want Uncle Phil in the hot seat for as long as he wants to be there.

 

[TLZ]

Contact Tim Dogg.

 

[ManaByte]

VGC's title is clickbait because nowhere in Spencer's comments say Xbox or MS at large is pushing Spencer to line up a successor... Phil is talking about himself wanting to make sure there's a plan or good transition in place for whenever that time may come. Not like he's being forced out or planning on retiring soon.

This. The article doesn’t say that anywhere. It’s a lie.

 

[MrFunSocks]

He's only 53, and I can't imagine there is a job out there that he is better suited for. But maybe he wants to retire when he is 60 and just play video games full time.

Sarah Bond seems pretty sharp and also passionate about the hobby.

"Only 53". When you're that rich most people want to retire early. Hell I want to be retired by 50 and Phil is in another stratosphere in earnings to me.

 

[Artistic]

Lol, well it isn't a bad line of thinking.

Got to keep up the momentum and all the goodwill he has done since taking the helms.

 

[Shmunter]

We've got a topic on here about gamepass with dozens of people that claim to know more and be much, much, smarter than Phil Spencer. I'm sure they'll take their applications. Make sure to say just how much money game pass must be losing, really hammer it home to them.

 

[HYDE]

They could pick anyone and it’d be better, they can’t put out anything first party that entices me in the slightest.

 

[Craig of War]

They could pick anyone and it’d be better, they can’t put out anything first party that entices me in the slightest.

So Fable, Avowed, Fallout 5, Elder Scrolls 6 can't entice you lol ok man

 

[Flutta]

So who’s next to lead the Green Rats army?

 

[Orpheum]

He was a cool dude.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

I hope he stays a couple more years but if Satya demands it, it should probably be Sarah Bond.

 

[Gameplaylover]

The Master Rat is deserting the sinking ship!

 

[SLB1904]

At least he can start only fans

 

[Topher]

 

[Batiman]

I vote Timdog

 

[Deerock71]

The Master Rat is deserting the sinking ship!

I wonder if there's a kernel of truth to that, irregardless of the resounding sustainableness of Gamepass.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Time for me to step in.

 

[MOTM]

They could pick anyone and it’d be better, they can’t put out anything first party that entices me in the slightest.

So Fable, Avowed, Fallout 5, Elder Scrolls 6 can't entice you lol ok man

Astrobot, Knack, Destruction Allstars and Godfall are more his cup of tea.

 

[TBiddy]

Is it just me that thinks Sarah Bond is incredibly... "stiff" on the stage? There's no charisma in her and everything she says and does feel very rehearsed.

 

[Zeroing]

He will never retire, he will run it for ever and they will change the brand Xbox to “phill Spencer box”

joking.

 

[Hitchyhero]

How about Melissa Mcgamepass. She even has gamepass in the name. What are the chances!

/s

 

[Makoto-Yuki]

i don't think it means he's going any time soon. just looking at who could replace him. it would be incredibly irresponsible of MS to NOT look at this. Xbox is kicking ass right now and is doing really well. Phil has done an amazing job at Xbox so it does make sense they get the right person in to replace him whenever that time might come.

 

[reksveks]

Is it just me that thinks Sarah Bond is incredibly... "stiff" on the stage? There's no charisma in her and everything she says and does feel very rehearsed.

Compared to Phil, yeah.
Compared to others, not really.

I do think she gets forced reading a script more often and is pretty good in interviews though.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

What happened to that bald guy during the 360 era? I liked him.

 

[Azurro]

We've got a topic on here about gamepass with dozens of people that claim to know more and be much, much, smarter than Phil Spencer. I'm sure they'll take their applications. Make sure to say just how much money game pass must be losing, really hammer it home to them.

I'd love to be the successor of Phil Spencer, huge salary and a stress free job.

 

[PhaseJump]

Microsoft will probably make a Booty call.

 

[mejin]

Maybe shareholders want his head. Of course, when MS announces he's stepping down from his position all the praises and respect are expected. maybe even documentary how he changed Xbox brand and other shit like that.

Is it just me that thinks Sarah Bond is incredibly... "stiff" on the stage? There's no charisma in her and everything she says and does feel very rehearsed.

this is all trained. Remember 2013 Phil? Derp as fuck.

Along the years the person will at least be more confortable with the new position.

 

[JLB]

This is something I was thinking during the last months.
He became Xbox boss when it was a sinking boat, selling 49k units per month on US, and the whole Mattrick debacle exploding right there. He basically saved Xbox.
Now Xbox is back in form, healthy and successful. And he is 53, so maybe he is looking for a last professional adventure before retirement.

edit: One more thing to expand on my last sentence.Theres definitely a big market for a senior VP as Spencer. I mean, the day Spencer steps down Xbox, he will have Apple and Amazon knocking his door the next day.

 

[Godot25]

Well. It's better that he choose his successor, who can drive his vision forward.
Otherwise you can end up with someone like Jim Ryan

...and you would not want to do that...