Microsoft has denied claims that Xbox boss Phil Spencer is about to step down, stating that the exec “isn’t retiring anytime quickly.”
On Wednesday, amid Microsoft’s widespread layoffs, claims appeared on-line that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer was as a result of retire from his place quickly, with Sarah Bond lined as much as succeed him.
Nevertheless, Microsoft has taken the bizarre step of flatly denying the rumor. This declare was first refuted on X by Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s head of communication, who claimed that any such story about Phil’s retirement was “made up.”
Afterward Wednesday, in a press release to The Verge, Microsoft flatly denied the declare, claiming that “Phil is just not retiring anytime quickly.”
Spencer, who turned 57 in January, has labored at Microsoft since 1988. He joined the Xbox crew in 2001, earlier than assuming the function of normal supervisor of Microsoft Studios in 2008. In 2014, Spencer was promoted to steer Xbox, Xbox Dwell, the now-defunct Groove Music, Motion pictures & TV, and Microsoft Studios.
It was throughout this time that Spencer tried to regular the ship following the disastrous Xbox One launch and the ousting of Don Mattrick. In 2022, Spencer would once more be promoted to the brand new place of CEO of Microsoft Gaming. This got here as Microsoft declared its intent to amass Activision Blizzard.
On Wednesday, Microsoft introduced sweeping layoffs, which may quantity to over 9000 workers dropping their jobs. The writer’s reboot of Good Darkish has been cancelled, and The Initiative has been closed.
Uncommon’s troubled Everwild has additionally been cancelled, and a number of senior builders have left the historic studio.
ZeniMax On-line Studios boss Matt Firor has additionally introduced that he’s leaving the studio amid the cancellation of Mission Blackbird, a long-in-development challenge on the studio.
