Seamus Blackley, one of the original creators of the first Xbox console, has shared his thoughts on how the brand is currently being managed. Known as the Father of Xbox, Blackley was instrumental in the creation of Microsoft's first gaming console and left the company shortly after the successful launch of the original Xbox in 2001.
There’s plenty for Xbox fans to be excited about in 2025, with highly anticipated titles such as Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed that just launched, followed by South of Midnight from Compulsion Games in April, and the turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Later in the year, Bethesda's Doom: The Dark Ages will make waves with its unique sci-fi fantasy setting and brutal medieval weaponry. These are just a few of the exciting titles coming in the first half of 2025, with more big-name releases like Playground Games' Fable reboot and Ninja Gaiden 4 planned for the second half of the year.
Despite these promising developments, Blackley has a more critical take on the recent direction of Xbox. In an interview with VideoGamer, Blackley expressed his frustration with how the brand has been managed in recent years, particularly highlighting the shift from focusing on console power to prioritizing game experiences. He noted that the industry’s obsession with photorealism and graphical fidelity is no longer as relevant as it once was, explaining that "this narrative about being more powerful is not helpful today."
Blackley’s comments seem to primarily target the Xbox One era, when Microsoft placed a significant emphasis on creating the most powerful console with the Xbox One S and One X. This period also saw some missteps, such as the closure of the beloved Fable studio, Lionhead, and the cancellation of the highly anticipated Scalebound project with PlatinumGames. It wasn't until later in the Xbox One generation, around 2018, that Microsoft began to focus on building up its first-party studios, a strategy that’s now coming to fruition with the release of titles like South of Midnight and Doom: The Dark Ages under the Xbox banner.
Xbox’s recent decision to refrain from releasing a mid-gen refresh, like PlayStation’s PS5 Pro, further demonstrates that the brand is shifting away from the power-focused mentality of previous generations. Instead, Xbox seems to be putting more emphasis on creating unique gaming experiences, expanding Xbox Game Pass, and strengthening its third-party partnerships.
It’s clear that Xbox’s philosophy has evolved since the Xbox One era. With a promising lineup of first-party games launching in 2025 and beyond, it appears Xbox is finally steering its strategy in the right direction, focusing on delivering the exciting content its fans have been waiting for.
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