Microsoft’s first party lineup has never looked as strong as it does heading into the ninth console generation. With fourteen studios under its belt, the Xbox Game Studios is looking like it’s going to be a major asset for Microsoft going forward, which is something they’re going to push not only the upcoming Xbox Series X, but also Game Pass.
To do that though, they’re going to have to maintain a consistent level of quality in their output, and it seems Microsoft are confident in their studios’ ability to do just that. Speaking recently in an interview with MCV UK, head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty said that all first party studios are going to aim to release games “that we can be proud of.”
“We need to make sure that we hold the bar high on quality, and that we’re releasing games that we can be proud of and that the fans can be proud of as Xbox exclusives,” said Booty.
He went on to emphasize the importance of stories and characters that can “transcend generations,” bringing up the likes of Lord of the Rings and Marvel stories as examples, before suggesting that something like Halo has the capacity to have that sort of enduring legacy as well.
“And then lastly, we need to continue building characters, stories and worlds that can transcend generations, devices and platforms,” Booty said. “You know, if you look into things like the Marvel characters or Lord of the Rings, when those Marvel characters were first invented in the 1960s, nobody knew that there was going to be a thing called Netflix.
“But yet, here we are. And, you know, the Marvel library figures heavily into video streaming. And so I think we are lucky to have worlds and universes like Halo, where there’s characters that can support TV series, books, comic books and all kinds of games. Things like Minecraft that can ship on 23 platforms, and is in schools, and we just need to stay focused on building those kinds of things that really will be generational and last for a while. And I think that if we do that the rest will take care of itself.”
Of all Xbox Game Studios teams, 343 Industries’ next game is the closest to release, with Halo Infinite being (cross-gen) launch title for the Xbox One. Meanwhile, Ninja Theory are also currently working on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.
In related news, Microsoft also recently confirmed that at least for a couple of years until after the Xbox Series X’s launch, all games coming out of Microsoft’s first party studios will also be releasing for Xbox One. Read more on that through here.