Microsoft Isn’t Exiting The Console Business, Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Reportedly Told Staff

Amidst reports of Microsoft bringing various first-party games to rival platforms, Xbox chief Phil Spencer reportedly assured staff that there are no plans to exit the console business. Microsoft plans to continue its console business, according to journalist Shannon Liao, and it’s claimed that Microsoft’s strategy will involve Xbox hardware and “multiple” kinds of devices.

“The company held an internal Tuesday town hall where Spencer told employees that there were no plans to stop making consoles, and that Xboxes would continue to be part of a strategy that involves multiple kinds of devices,” Liao wrote.

This lines up with previous comments from Spencer, where he mentioned Microsoft’s aim to expand the reach of its Game Pass subscription service.

The last couple of weeks have seen rumors circulating that Xbox games like Hi-Fi Rush, Starfield, Gears of War, and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could be headed to PS5 after it launches first on Xbox Series X|S and PC. This would mark a radical departure from Xbox’s strategy over the last few years to keep its first-party games exclusively on its consoles and PC, and last week, Spencer announced that there will be an update on Xbox’s future plans this week.

“We’re listening and we hear you,” Spencer wrote on X/Twitter. “We’ve been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.”

Jeff Grubb of GameSpot sister site Giant Bomb recently mentioned that Microsoft originally planned to reveal its new game-release strategy at the end of February, although it appears this has been moved up to this week.