Xbox boss Phil Spencer expresses his dislike of ‘manipulative’ expansions

The head of Microsoft’s gaming business has expressed his dislike of “manipulative” expansions.

Phil Spencer discussed Xbox’s approach to releasing expansions for first-party titles in a new interview with Game File.

During the conversation, the interviewer raised the possibility of Microsoft capitalising on large player bases provided by Game Pass by leaning more heavily into paid expansions.

Spencer said there’s no “top down mandate” on expansions and “not every game will do expansions”.

“It’s really left to the creators [regarding] what plan they have for their stories. I think it’s a great way for us to reengage players who may be lapsed.”

“I don’t like expansions that are manipulative,” Spencer added. “I want it to have a unique point of view. I don’t want it to be, like, the third level that you cut before you launched.”

In a separate Bloomberg interview published today, Spencer said Xbox is still open to more acquisitions following last year’s $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard.

He also said Xbox wouldn’t rule out any first-party game coming to PS5 or Switch, and that Xbox is working on handheld prototypes.