Phil Spencer explains why you should buy an Xbox in its multiplatform era: ‘We want to win on capabilities’

Phil Spencer has discussed where Xbox console hardware fits within its new, more open approach to multiplatform game development.

Since the start of last year, Microsoft has brought an increased number of games to rival platforms, and its gaming CEO Phil Spencer has said there are now “no red lines” for which games it could port next. Its new marketing campaign even proclaims that virtually any device is now an Xbox.

This has left many Xbox console owners wondering where their devices fit in Microsoft’s plans for an ever more open ecosystem. Xbox’s Spencer was asked about this in a new interview with Gamertag radio.

“I want people to pick hardware based on the capabilities of that hardware and how that fits into the choices that they want to make about where they want to play, and we want our hardware to win based on the hardware capabilities that we have,” he replied.

“I think the difference that we’ve seen in the last 20 years, and I think this is good because I come from building games, is it’s really games first, not platform first. Most of the games that you or I will talk about run across so many different platforms, and those are the games that are having success, those are the games at the top of the charts…

“I want to build a platform that services those creators, the creators that are trying to meet people on every screen.”

In the same interview, Spencer reiterated that Xbox intends to release more of its games on more platforms in the future, but he also emphasized that the brand has a future in hardware. Microsoft first announced last February that it’s actively working on its next-gen console.

“Let’s say it: our own hardware, I think it’s fundamental about what Xbox is,” Spencer told Gamertag Radio. “It’s not lost to me that ‘box’ is in the name of our brand. In the position that I’m in, I look at hardware as a critical part of what we do, but [we’re] not trying to gatekeep the games off of other places for the benefit of it.

“Let’s go build innovative hardware that people want to use to play, whether that’s in their hands, whether it’s on the television, or even other places,” he added.

“And I love our hardware team. I spent some time with them just this week [looking at] the roadmap that they have. I think we’re learning a lot from this. Like Steam Deck, and what does it mean for our games to be there? ROG Ally, Lenovo… what does Xbox mean on those platforms? I don’t think we’re tuned it perfectly yet, and I’ve spent a lot of time with the team on that, but I want to make progress there.”

In the same interview, Spencer confirmed that Xbox intends to support Nintendo Switch 2 with ports of its own games. “I was exchanging emails with Furukawa-san, the CEO of Nintendo. I gave him a big congrats and said my old eyes appreciate the larger screen,” he said.