Since acquiring gaming giants Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, and the creators at Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft has turned into an industry titan with numerous projects brewing. Despite some titles being announced ages ago, progress seems slow on them. Rare’s Everwild and Undead Labs’ State of Decay 3 are prime examples of games caught in the development limbo with not much visible progress.
Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Gaming, recently addressed these concerns during a chat with Xbox Era. He dismissed worries about development delays, pointing out that Microsoft’s vast reach as a publisher enables these studios to fine-tune their games without the pressure of rushing them to market.
When asked about which of the unreleased first-party games he’s most eager about, Spencer highlighted State of Decay 3, Everwild, and an intriguing new project from the creative minds at Tim Schafer’s Double Fine Productions.
Reflecting on his fondness for State of Decay, Spencer remarked, “State of Decay is one of those franchises I’ve been passionate about since its inception.” He continued, “I’m really impressed with the work Double Fine is doing, and I value how Tim seeks feedback from his team. Just recently, I had the chance to catch up with Rare, and it’s great to witness the strides they’re making with Everwild.”
Spencer admitted there’s been radio silence regarding these projects. “It has been a while, indeed,” he acknowledged. “But we’re allowing these teams the time they need, which is a luxury we have due to our extensive portfolio. It’s like a dream for Matt [Booty] and me, so it’s satisfying to see it come to fruition. Giving them time is important.”
Microsoft isn’t in any rush to expedite game releases, as their schedule for 2025 is already jam-packed. Fans can look forward to titles like Obsidian’s Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, id Software’s Doom: The Dark Ages, Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight, Playground Games’ Fable, and Ninja Gaiden 4 from Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. And, of course, another Call of Duty installment is likely in the mix.
In a whimsical note, Spencer also mentioned he’s planning a visit to The Coalition, the studio behind Gears of War, to explore another long-awaited game, Gears of War: E-Day. Reminiscing about the last Gears game from 2019, he enthused, “I’ll be dropping by next week. Honestly, I’m thrilled when they open the doors for me—it’s like being a kid in a candy store.”
