With Microsoft’s recent acquisitions of Activision Blizzard and Bethesda on top of its already impressive Xbox Game Studios lineup, the tech giant is making waves in the gaming industry with a plethora of projects in the pipeline. Some of these anticipated titles, like Rare’s Everwild and Undead Labs’ State of Decay 3, were announced years ago but have since seemed to drift into development limbo, leaving fans eagerly waiting.
In a recent chat with Xbox Era, Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, addressed these development delays with a shrug, attributing them to Microsoft’s capacity to allow studios the time they need to polish their games to perfection. The massive scale of the company as a publisher means there’s no rush—and that’s a luxury few can afford.
When asked about which upcoming first-party games he’s buzzing about, Spencer didn’t hesitate to mention State of Decay 3, Everwild, and a new project from Double Fine Productions, helmed by the legendary Tim Schafer.
Spencer shared his enthusiasm, saying, “State of Decay has always been a favorite of mine since its first release. I really admire the work happening at Double Fine, especially Tim’s way of involving his team in the creative process. Plus, I recently visited Rare and got a firsthand look at Everwild’s progress—it’s truly exciting.”
He recognized the long stretches of silence surrounding these titles, admitting, “Yes, it’s been quite some time. But what’s rewarding is being able to offer these teams the time and space they need, thanks to our diverse portfolio. It’s been a long-held dream for Matt [Booty] and me, and it’s wonderful to see it coming together. We’re all about giving these creative teams what they need.”
Microsoft’s no-pressure stance is understandable considering their upcoming 2025 lineup, which boasts a slew of heavy-hitters, including Obsidian’s Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, id Software’s Doom: The Dark Ages, Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight, Playground Games’ Fable, Team Ninja and PlatinumGames’ Ninja Gaiden 4, and, as always, the next Call of Duty installment.
Spencer also couldn’t help but mention his upcoming visit to The Coalition to check out the much-anticipated Gears of War: E-Day. Fans haven’t seen a new Gears game since 2019, so the anticipation is palpable. He quipped, “I’m heading there next week, and it feels like being a kid in a candy store whenever I get the chance to see what’s new.”
