The CEO of Microsoft Gaming reveals new details about the vision of Xbox, the alliance with Kojima and the plans for the next generation.
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During his recent visit to Japan for the Tokyo Game Show 2025, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, granted an interview in which he addressed key topics about the future of the Xbox brand. Among them, the collaboration with Hideo Kojima and the project OD, the next steps for the Halo saga, the relationship with Japanese studios, and the first hints about the successor to Xbox Series.
Spencer, who participated in several events during the show (including the ceremony for Ninja Gaiden 4 by Koei Tecmo and the tenth anniversary of Kojima Productions), spoke candidly about the growth of Xbox in Asia and the importance of the Japanese market in Microsoft’s global strategy.
“We want the next Xbox console to connect all devices”
When asked about the future of hardware, Spencer confirmed that a new console is already in development, although its official announcement does not yet have a date. The executive explained that the arrival of the ROG Xbox Ally (the portable device from ASUS launched this October) is a demonstration of how the Xbox ecosystem will evolve in the coming years.
The hardware we announce will be the next console,” Spencer explained. “We want the Xbox platform to connect all devices: console, PC, cloud, and portable. That’s our vision for the future.”
According to Spencer, the company wants the next generation to be more flexible and focused on software, integrating cloud experiences, shared progress, and sessions that resume anywhere, just like the ROG Ally.
OD by Hideo Kojima: “It will be a truly terrifying game”
One of the highlights of the interview was the collaboration with Kojima Productions. Spencer attended the “Beyond the Strand” event to show new images of OD, the next project by the creator of Death Stranding, developed with Unreal Engine 5 and under the Xbox Game Studios label.
“Kojima told me he wanted to create a truly terrifying game,” Spencer revealed. “The trailer we saw at the event demonstrates extremely high quality. We’re working very closely with the Kojima Productions team on both gameplay and technology.”
The executive also acknowledged that development has been affected by the 2023 actors’ strike, so there is still no defined release date. Despite this, Xbox maintains its full support for the project, which promises to be one of the most innovative experiences of the brand.
Japan, an increasingly important market for Xbox
Spencer highlighted that Xbox playtime in Japan has increased by 20% over the last year, including console, PC, and cloud. According to him, this growth demonstrates the success of their strategy to offer games and services adapted to each region, and the relevance that the Japanese public has acquired within the Xbox ecosystem.
TGS is a key event for us. We want to convey to Japanese fans how important their market is,” he stated. “If we continue to offer content with Japanese identity, like the new maps and DLC for Forza Horizon 6 or Age of Mythology: Retold, the number of players will keep growing.”
The executive also emphasized the arrival of more titles from Capcom, Square Enix, and Sega to Xbox, such as Monster Hunter Stories or Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, reinforcing the collaboration with the big names of the Japanese industry.
Ninja Gaiden 4: “We wanted to support its return from Xbox Game Studios”
One of the most commented moments of the Tokyo Game Show was the prominence of Ninja Gaiden 4, developed by Koei Tecmo and PlatinumGames under the Xbox Game Studios label. Spencer explained that the return of this iconic franchise had been in conversations for years and that Xbox wanted to be directly involved to ensure its success.
“I’ve always wondered if we could revive Ninja Gaiden,” Spencer confessed. “When Koei Tecmo and PlatinumGames decided to collaborate, we saw the perfect opportunity to offer creative, technical, and production support from Xbox Game Studios.”
The executive assured that Ninja Gaiden 4 will be a game faithful to the original essence but accessible to new players, and highlighted that the global launch will take place on October 21, 2025.
The future of Halo and upcoming games developed in Japan
Regarding Halo, Spencer avoided giving specific details, although he made it clear that the franchise remains essential to Xbox and that 343 Industries is working on “new ways to expand the universe” after the internal changes in the studio.
He also announced that Xbox Game Studios will publish more titles developed in Japan, following the line of Ninja Gaiden 4 and OD:
“I can’t give names yet, but we’re in conversations with several partners and there will be announcements in the near future.”
A global vision for the new Xbox generation
To conclude, Spencer spoke about Microsoft Gaming’s long-term vision and how the idea of a unified platform where players can enjoy their games on any device is being consolidated.
“We want to reduce barriers between consoles, PC, and other platforms. If someone wants to play our titles on PS5 or Switch 2, we’ll look for ways to make it possible,” Spencer said, reaffirming Xbox’s openness to new distribution models.
The executive ended on a more personal note, confessing that his go-to device during travels is the ROG Xbox Ally:
“I use it all the time. I was playing Hollow Knight: Silksong on the plane, and when I got home, I could continue exactly where I left off. That’s the Xbox experience we want to offer everyone.”
The interview with Phil Spencer hints at a key moment for Xbox. With projects as ambitious as OD by Hideo Kojima, the return of Ninja Gaiden under the Xbox Game Studios label, and the promise of a new console that will unify all forms of play, the company seems more determined than ever to consolidate its global ecosystem.
Founder and editor of SoloXboxOne and Generación Xbox. He is also one of the owners of the GX Group, Samsung Universe and the Reflotes forum. Adrian has reviewed over 200 games on the web and has an average score of 85 according to Opencritic. Among his expertise as a writer and analyst, he has interviewed Microsoft personalities and participated in private gaming events.
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