‘Everyone deserves to play’ Why Xbox Head Phil Spencer’s ‘Doom’ comments hit a nerve

Have you ever said something and realized it will come back to haunt you over and over again? Xbox boss Phil Spencer may have his time off on his hands after his recent announcement about the upcoming release. Catastrophe: The Dark Ages.

Taking this new statement in the context of what Spencer said and other business decisions Microsoft has made, it calls into question the future direction of the entire Xbox platform.

“Doom is definitely one of those franchises that has a history of multiple platforms,” ​​Spencer said. IGN Following the Xbox demo. It's a franchise that I think everyone deserves to play.

A franchise that says “everyone deserves to play.” What does he mean by this?

If you don't know what's going on in video games, Microsoft has started publishing some smaller games like Hi-Fi Rush and Grounded on non-Microsoft platforms – Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation 5.

Conventional wisdom among game industry executives, as well as dedicated gamers, is that exclusives are good. They are important to ensure your install base is why they buy your game.

If Microsoft is selling games on PlayStation and Switch, what's the point of owning an Xbox in the first place? This is a question many have asked in response to Microsoft's decision.

The first batch of games to make the jump were relatively small games and were games that achieved critical success or took advantage of multi-platform gaming. Fallout: The Dark Ages is shaping up to be one of Microsoft's biggest games of 2025—and alongside a blood-soaked trailer, the company announced that the game is headed to the PlayStation 5.

It's a franchise that I think everyone deserves to play.

Thanks to high-profile acquisitions in recent years, Microsoft has many franchises under its umbrella. Doom, Wolfenstein, Halo, Forza, Gears of War, call of duty, Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series are huge hits that Microsoft now controls. And we do not think it difficult to see the logical next step suggested by Spencer's words.

Which franchises shouldn't everyone play? if so The Elder Scrolls VI It's not coming to the PlayStation 5 (or PlayStation 6?), for example, because it's a franchise that not everyone should play?

Spencer's words are meant to make Microsoft look like a generous good guy by—hopefully—saving Xbox die-hards from offending. what is it Really However, the price is a judgment. Even worse, it's something that gamers can apply for every game Microsoft publishes, at least as long as Spencer has been in charge of the Xbox brand (if not longer).

Or maybe it's not a value judgment. Maybe with a telegraphic swing. Xbox doesn't want to put any franchises above the rest—at least, not in an obvious way that suggests some aren't worth playing.

Spencer's mantra with Xbox games over the past few years has been “when everyone plays, we all win.” In fact, they have A whole website Devoted to the opinion.

So if Microsoft does not want to save the franchises and like the idea all of them What does gaming mean to the Xbox brand? While we don't know what Microsoft's plans are for the future, it seems to indicate that the Xbox brand will eventually go multi-platform for all major titles.

Spencer has been a good guy for Xbox fans ever since he took over and worked hard for years to win back the trust Microsoft lost with the ailing Xbox One and its TV-centric features. He often offers realistic but hands-on thoughts about the industry that suggest he's very interested in seeing as many games played as one can imagine.

This is one of the few times Spencer is heard to be in a puddle. Players don't forget – not if they later hold your own words against you. And now that Microsoft is testing a change that could change how the Xbox platform is viewed, we're left waiting for word on which games everyone should be playing and which games aren't.

Edited by Andrew Hayward.