Phil Spencer reinforces his commitment to Xbox teams: “Creativity is what we must protect

The director of Microsoft Gaming acknowledges past mistakes and promises to continue driving an environment of creative freedom within Xbox.

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During his speech at the Paley International Council Summit, Phil Spencer once again made it clear that the future of Xbox lies in nurturing talent. The executive acknowledged that “we haven’t always protected our creative teams well“, but highlighted that the company is determined to learn from those mistakes to continue growing as a space where studios can create without fear.

Spencer, accompanied by Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine, spoke openly about the importance of creative risk-taking in the video game industry. As he explained, fostering artistic freedom within teams is essential to keeping the innovation that defines Xbox Game Studios alive.

Xbox bets on the freedom and talent of its studios

Schafer publicly praised the trust that Microsoft has placed in Double Fine since its incorporation into Xbox in 2019. “We can say ‘we want to make a game about a walking lighthouse’ and they respond: ‘Great, sounds good’,” he commented with laughter, highlighting the total freedom they have to create without commercial pressure.

For his part, Spencer acknowledged that not all teams have enjoyed the same level of support in the past, but assured that Microsoft’s priority is to continue protecting creativity above all else. “Team creativity is, in my opinion, the most important thing and what we must protect and foster,” he stated.