SPEAKER 1: Video games on this podcast vary from E to M.
TINA AMINI: Hiya, and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast. I am right here with a really particular visitor at present, I get the good pleasure of introducing you all to Craig Duncan, our new Head of Xbox Recreation Studios. Welcome to Xbox Studio, to not be confused along with your Xbox Recreation Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I am accountable for this as nicely? That is new, like that is — that is, I did not understand that.
TINA AMINI: We do not make video games here–
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good to see you, Tina.
TINA AMINI: Good to see you too. Yeah, so we do not make video games right here, we do make video games advertising and marketing right here, in addition to this beautiful podcast. So sure, thanks a lot for becoming a member of the podcast. I do need to begin with form of giving the group slightly little bit of context about your very storied historical past and profession in video games. You have been in video games for twenty years, so you’ve got seen loads, you’ve got seen the ups and down of the trade, the literal ups and downs.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: You have additionally been lauded the place you have been Studio Head at Uncommon for a few years. You have been lauded in your work there. The studio tradition, clearly you shipped Uncommon Replay, you’ve got been accountable for Sea of Thieves for its hundreds of thousands, aka seven years it has been ongoing now. And also you even have been working with Ninja Principle and Compulsion earlier than this new position. So you’ve got been across the block, as they are saying.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it has been a enjoyable couple of a long time, and I like what I do, like that is why I do what I do. And really fortunate to see a bunch of the transition on the video games trade, joined again in 2002, I labored for a European writer known as Codemasters that was form of my discover ways to make video games, made a bunch of various form of video games; motion video games, sports activities video games, then slightly little bit of (inaudible) halfway video games, slightly little bit of (inaudible) digital, after which joined Uncommon to steer them. And I’ve seen Xbox evolve and alter over, I suppose 14 years I have been with Xbox now. And actually, the a part of the job I like greater than something is working with studios. I feel everybody’s position is essential, and I feel my job as a frontrunner is to assist create the proper surroundings for our groups to achieve success, create a tradition the place they’ll help one another, assist one another. Making video games is admittedly onerous, it isn’t any simpler now than it was 20 years in the past. In truth, it is more durable than ever, competitors is increased, participant expectations are increased. So, I feel my job is about creating the tradition and supporting our leaders, supporting our groups to do the perfect work they’ll, as a result of I feel if I try this, then hopefully that exhibits within the video games we make and what goes to our gamers.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Truthfully a favourite a part of my job too, simply attending to know all of our expertise at our studios. Like unbelievable expertise, so an unbelievable job that you’ve in entrance of you. However well-suited to the position, clearly, since you’ve got had numerous that pedigree, which is —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: — thrilling and I am comfortable for the studios and the way we’re shifting ahead. So, I might love to speak about that as nicely, like we have got an enormous and thrilling yr forward of us. We kicked off the yr with Developer Direct. I need to speak concerning the video games that have been in Developer Direct, as a result of we have got an opportunity to speak concerning the launch dates so we all know what’s coming, when it is coming. However we additionally simply launched Avowed, Obsidian’s newest recreation. So I have been spending the weekend taking part in that myself. How about you?
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I imply, once more, the fortunate a part of this job, spend time with all of the groups, spent a bunch of time with the Obsidian workforce. After which actually, like I really feel like I have been taking part in Avowed for like three or 4 months, as a result of we have — yeah, we clearly have a look at what we’re constructing. However simply seeing the response of gamers, seeing the opinions, seeing simply individuals share the identical love for the (inaudible), they have a lot ardour, Carrie, Feargus, the entire workforce, a lot ardour into the sport. And yeah, it is a fantastic recreation, it is received fantastic story. If you have not checked it out, go test it out. However simply seeing all of the opinions and it is an actual private second for a workforce whenever you put a recreation on the market.
TINA AMINI: Completely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply seeing the reactions and simply a few of the hype across the recreation, and folks actually having fun with it, I feel’s been nice to see.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I am sadly solely 5 hours in, so instantly once we wrap up I am going house and I am taking part in some extra.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Okay, yeah.
TINA AMINI: This has been formally sanctioned. However even 5 hours in there’s a lot depth and richness.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: And we have had the pleasure of getting Carrie Patel, Recreation Director, out on the podcast earlier than. She’s been on Prolonged with me, so I’ve gotten to speak to her fairly a bit. I like Carrie, shout out to Carrie.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely. And simply Obsidians play the sport your means, and similar to Avowed, positive it is a recreation you’ll be able to play by way of the story and thru the facet quests, however there’s truly numerous the best way you load out along with your character, that you would be able to actually play the sport in very, very other ways and I like that. >> Yeah. It is each the sport play, however then it is also the exploration which is admittedly cool. I used to be simply at DICE and numerous my journalist associates have been telling me, oh, my God, the verticality! And it is like sure, we have been principally speaking concerning the verticality within the podcast with Carrie and there’s a lot to do and there’s that sense of, I see that factor within the distance and I need to go interact with that factor. And there is one thing in that surroundings so that you can do. Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: And it is like my form of recreation, and been seeing numerous good opinions on the market.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and similar to the story and the setting and like I am tremendous comfortable for Obsidian and —
TINA AMINI: World-class storytellers, I am loving Kai up to now. He is like scratching my like New Yorker sarcasm itch. So it is personality-wise, we’re a very good match.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good, I like that.
TINA AMINI: Properly, we additionally had a bunch of different video games showcased in Developer Direct this yr. First off, I simply need to say, I completely love engaged on that present. It is each as a result of we get to love actually embed with the studios, like at their studio, so the entire viewers will get to see what’s the studio surroundings and like what’s the tradition, how are individuals working collectively. And it is simply such a gorgeous storytelling format, I feel, if I am —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I like the format and I feel simply, and I feel you mentioned it nicely earlier, simply placing our expertise, like we now have so many — a lot expertise throughout our studios and simply the extra you place them — I all the time really feel slightly little bit of a shill after I come and do that factor. It is like, you do not actually need to hear from me speaking about our video games, you need to hear from our workforce members, and Developer Direct is only a actually nice setting for them to speak concerning the video games and the fervour and yeah, like South of Midnight was on there, which clearly a workforce I’ve labored tremendous intently with. And listening to them inform the story and the inspiration, it is a terrific format.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I like the Compulsion workforce, that is truly their third ever recreation, which is fairly unbelievable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep.
TINA AMINI: They’ve a really distinctive model, for those who’ve, if the group our there has performed their earlier two video games as nicely. Individuals have been actually celebrating the storytelling, the performances, and there is a lot coronary heart in that recreation and I like to see individuals having fun with that after I’ve seen the opinions.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is a, and once more, very, very fortunate I have been taking part in it loads. The creatures, the storytelling, the southern gothic, like there isn’t any recreation I can consider that is been in a setting that they’ve realized and it is lovely, the artwork’s lovely. The, like I mentioned, storytelling, the creatures, the audio, the music —
TINA AMINI: The music too, sure. Particularly the music, you all the time, in each recreation the music is unquestionably matching the tone, like the atmosphere. Are you in a boss battle, or are you simply in an environmental form of extra peaceable setting. However the best way that the music’s like actually chatting with the bosses.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is the storytelling.
TINA AMINI: It is their theme track. Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is unbelievable.
TINA AMINI: I believed it was so intelligent. Yeah. So I used to be actually comfortable to have that in our present, that one’s popping out April 8, we introduced in Developer Direct. Enjoyable truth truly, earlier than we speak concerning the different video games, is Artwork Director, Whitney Clayton, who opened the (inaudible) for South of Midnight, she truly designed their entire studios too. The studio area itself. And it’s attractive.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is a fantastic place, yeah.
TINA AMINI: — I needed to steal her over and assist design our of workplaces and he mentioned, completely not. In order that’s not occurring.
CRAIG DUNCAN: See, I went for a unique factor, I am like hey, I can simply be primarily based in right here. As a result of —
TINA AMINI: Sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: — it simply feels so inventive and it is again to again, you need to be surrounded by the issues that encourage you.
TINA AMINI: Sure and you’re feeling the creativity whenever you’re there.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely.
TINA AMINI: I very a lot love their area and that is the great thing about Developer Direct, you get to see a few of that within the environmental storytelling that we do within the present. However we additionally had a really thrilling reveal with Ninja Gaiden 4. In order that’s been within the works for a while. What’s our backstory with that franchise?
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I like the story behind that. So, not solely Workforce Ninja, however together with Platinum Video games and I do know there was numerous, what are Platinum Video games engaged on, actually prestigious developer. Ninja Gaiden, I imply it is a franchise began on arcade after which house computer systems. And I suppose, I feel the unique Nintendo there was a Ninja Gaiden model, if my reminiscence serves me accurately. However it’s additionally a franchise that is been synonymous with Xbox through the years in a number of generations. So, simply to deliver a brilliant up-to-date, extremely polished, simply seeing simply the tempo of fight, the joy, the boss — prefer it’s received a lot. And I feel followers are going to be blown away by the sport. They are going to get pleasure from it. I truly love the shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 as nicely.
TINA AMINI: Sure, slightly bonus shock, sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply the truth that we get to have these form of surprises within the exhibits and folks can go play it instantly on Recreation Cross is admittedly nice, and look ahead to Ninja Gaiden 4 later this yr.
TINA AMINI: Precisely, it is such a great way to simply form of set it again up and scratch that nostalgia itch, after which remind the group about like the good prowess and —
CRAIG DUNCAN: It has been some time for the reason that final one —
TINA AMINI: Sure, precisely. Yeah.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, simply placing it again on individuals’s radars and what was nice concerning the franchise, however the publishing workforce actually enthusiastic about it. Every part we’re seeing, like we expect the sport’s shaping up very well. So.
TINA AMINI: Sure, we now have a lot love for Ninja Gaiden internally. The producer on my workforce that took on that specific phase and flew to Japan and labored with the studio, used to again within the day work for IGN, 10 years in the past was begging for the return of Ninja Gaiden, so very particular for lots of us internally at Xbox, to be form of bringing this out into the world with these groups and get the group as excited as we’re —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is a terrific franchise.
TINA AMINI: — actually particular. Sure, completely. Properly, we additionally had third-party associates present up —
CRAIG DUNCAN: You probably did?
TINA AMINI: — with a brand new studio, Sandfall Interactive, that is their first recreation that they are ever transport collectively as a workforce, and it is Expedition 33. It appears attractive.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I am excited to play this one. Like, and once more, that is the bit the place it isn’t a part of my job, however it was the, it was the sport within the present that I am like hey, I actually prefer it. JRPG, plus distinctive setting, plus new IP. Yeah, I am actually excited to play. I feel I’ve seen as a lot as anybody else has seen, however —
TINA AMINI: The one one you’ll be able to say that with.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Completely, however what I like about Developer Direct once more, is it showcasing a brand new studio, a brand new IP, and I like that we will try this on the most important stage and present that to the world. So.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, and that workforce is admittedly fantastic. I received to spend time with them engaged on their phase collectively. Their love for JRPGs is simply so obvious. They have been so embedded of their phase it was like such a pleasure to work with them and assist them inform their story.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Unimaginable.
TINA AMINI: Sure, completely, they actually have their very own like distinctive positioning on it, and like actually making it their very own. It’s extremely enjoyable to study from the behind the scenes, like simply how a lot they’re placing into this recreation, and we introduced it is popping out April 24, so —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure, very quickly.
TINA AMINI: — one other, yeah, one other one to make for a busy yr. And there was one different recreation in Developer Direct, in fact, our large nearer, our summer time blockbuster if you’ll, for DOOM: The Darkish Ages, introduced for Might 15. So very thrilling to have that one shut out the present.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and once more, tremendous excited for the sport, the workforce, and simply it is a tremendous franchise, very storied franchise, DOOM. And once more, I do not need to converse for them, however like I feel it should be a tremendous model of DOOM, very totally different, however yeah. Simply —
TINA AMINI: It feels that technique to me too.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Tremendous cool.
TINA AMINI: Talking of it being a storied franchise, they did such a very good job, each Hugo and Marty simply form of drawing again on just like the earlier DOOMs, the position that you just performed, after which what that’s in comparison with Darkish Ages.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: And that form of like large mecca, like gob smacking chaos that you will be discovering your self in. So, undoubtedly that large summer time blockbuster vibe for Might 15 launch date. We did additionally prevails announce that DOOM was going to be coming to different platforms. And since then we have had a bunch of different information about different video games of ours coming to different platforms. Talking of Bethesda, additionally Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep, in fact.
TINA AMINI: And transient sidebar for Indiana Jones, that received, took house three awards from DICE truly.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, big, congratulations.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I had the pleasure of congratulating Todd in individual, just like the workforce was actually excited. It was so nice to see MachineGames on stage, taking house three awards. So that they received Journey Recreation of the Yr, Excellent Achievement in Character, which in fact went to Journey Baker for Indie himself, and Achievement in Story. All tremendous well-deserved.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Properly-deserved.
TINA AMINI: I beloved taking part in that recreation. I feel I devoured it in two days, doing nothing else with my life, however I feel it was well-spent hours I’d say.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too, and once more form of received to play it pre-launch, however what they constructed was unbelievable and well-deserving of all of the awards.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Very comfortable for that workforce.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too.
TINA AMINI: However on that observe, a few of the video games which are going to be coming to different platforms, they’re a few of our like long-standing form of flagship sequence if you’ll. So I am simply curious what you suppose the Xbox group ought to take away from the truth that we have made that call to deliver extra video games to extra platforms.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I feel it is good for avid gamers, I feel it is good for our studios. Our studios make superb video games, and we need to give these video games the possibility to achieve the broadest viewers attainable. So, even when I feel again to after I had my Studio Head of Sea of Thieves hat on, having to see if these attain their a number of platforms, having the ability to take away boundaries so these gamers might play collectively. After which we introduced Forza Horizon 5, which one of many largest video games on Xbox. I am very biased, in fact, as a result of I do know the workforce tremendous nicely, however arguably I feel in all probability among the best racing video games ever, ever, ever, ever made.
TINA AMINI: I feel lots of people agree with you.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I simply suppose it is good for avid gamers, it is good to have our video games attain extra locations.
TINA AMINI: It is a few of that high quality of life ingredient for avid gamers, but in addition comfortable for our builders that get an opportunity to share their artwork with extra individuals.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Everybody that makes a recreation desires it to achieve as many gamers as attainable. So.
TINA AMINI: Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I like that we may give that chance.
TINA AMINI: Completely. Properly, there’s one different extremely anticipated recreation —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure!
TINA AMINI: — that folks can be very enthusiastic about, that we have not talked about but, and that is Fable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure.
TINA AMINI: So the place are we at with Fable?
CRAIG DUNCAN: So, I simply need to begin with actually excited, actually enthusiastic about progress, actually excited the place Playground are. We beforehand introduced the date for Fable as 2025, we are literally going to present Fable extra time and it should ship in 2026 now. Whereas I do know that is not possibly the information individuals need to hear, what I need to guarantee individuals of is that it is undoubtedly well worth the wait. And I simply, I’ve unequivocal confidence within the Playground workforce. If you concentrate on their historical past and legacy for Forza Horizon, the final two video games critically acclaimed (inaudible) —
TINA AMINI: Award-winning.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Award-winning, lovely, performed nice. And simply what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, simply consider the visuals of what you count on of Playground Video games, plus superb recreation play, British humor, Playground’s model of Albion, so impressed by what’s gone earlier than with the franchise, however their take. And fairly frankly, probably the most superbly realized model of Albion you’ve got ever seen. So actually excited concerning the plans and actually excited concerning the future and I need the group to know that we do this stuff for one of the best of the video games, and the groups, and finally that leads to one of the best video games, or one of the best recreation for the group.
TINA AMINI: And I feel out of your go to you truly managed to deliver over some footage for us to see a few of these lovely visuals as nicely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. So, I feel we’ll present a few of the, a few of the footage, this is not a trailer or something. We thought as we have been going to speak concerning the recreation, it was essential to indicate a few of the issues.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, we get to see a few of these scenes, like form of each simply strolling by way of environments the place, and there shall be some fight, some metropolis strolling scenes, simply actually seeing how the gorgeous selection in environments which are within the recreation.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I’ve performed some elements of it which are within the metropolis primarily based, and once more, I am attempting to be very cautious that I do not spoil something. Ralph and the workforce will not forgive me if I spoil one thing. However I performed a few of the metropolis components, I performed a few of the quests, I performed a few of the fight, I performed a boss battle, I’ve used magic. Prefer it felt superb, and I had a good time, and once more, I bear in mind the originals and the scene, I’ve performed that in recreation play. I am not going to spoil the backstory of what is going on on, however as you’ll be able to see, genuinely lovely. Performs nice.
TINA AMINI: Simply seeing just like the cinematics after which chopping to the precise like battle over right here, it is attractive. It might probably barely inform the distinction, which is such a seamless transition.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. It’s extremely actual, every little thing you are seeing right here could be very playable. I’ve seen a bunch greater than that, I am very excited. So take my phrase for it. However hopefully what the workforce can see right here is sufficient to construct pleasure.
TINA AMINI: I like the little particulars, it is nice to see how a lot emphasis is being put into all of that.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and there isn’t any greater followers of Fable as a franchise because the Playground workforce which are making it. So I feel it is a actually enjoyable steadiness between what are the sport tenets which are true to Fable, and what’s some modern-day reimagining of what’s Playground Video games’ model of Fable.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. The trendy retelling of Fable. Very excited myself, I have been an enormous Fable participant since day one. So, I am excited for 2026.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: Alright, nicely that is all of the information that we now have for this explicit episode and for what’s developing for the remainder of the yr. However earlier than we ship you again off to go hang around with different studios and see all of their video games and inform me about all of the issues that you just’re seeing there, I’d simply like to know like what are you taking part in, what are you wanting ahead to the remainder of the yr, possibly one thing non-Xbox Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is form of difficult, as a result of this job is full on, like as you’ll think about. And so I spend numerous time, so clearly I am over in Redmond this week. I’ve received a Steam Deck that is filled with XGS video games, so I spend numerous our time taking part in our personal video games. We have got a bunch of stuff we have not introduced, so clearly I spend a bunch of time with that. I feel as we have talked about earlier, I feel Expedition 33 I feel is one thing I am wanting ahead to taking part in. Was cool to see the Change 2 announcement, so like all the time curious and enthusiastic about what Nintendo do, so I feel that shall be cool. However yeah, similar to we now have tons happening.
TINA AMINI: We do.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I attempt to spend as a lot time as I can taking part in our personal video games. Yeah, so.
TINA AMINI: We’ll name it analysis.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: It is enjoyable analysis.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s enjoyable analysis.
TINA AMINI: That is me taking part in Avowed later.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is one of the best a part of the job.
TINA AMINI: Proceed my journey, sure, precisely. Properly, thanks a lot for coming by, I hope we now have you once more right here at Xbox Studio, to not be confused with Xbox Recreation Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: That’s complicated.
TINA AMINI: — many places, we’re however one location, right here in Redmond as nicely. And yeah, we’re wanting ahead to seeing extra the remainder of the yr, and I hope everybody else at house watching is equally excited. And we’ll see you on the subsequent present.
