Summary
The former boss ofPlayStationhas responded to some recent comments made by Xbox head Phil Spencer in a recent interview. The wide-ranging interview covered a variety of topics, with the conversation at one point leading Spencer to mention that he doesn’t want to do “slimy platform things” to force gamers to play games a certain way, which has now prompted a response byPlayStation’s former leader.
For those who may be unaware, Microsoft Gaming CEOPhil Spencer threw shade at PlayStationat the recent Xbox Games Showcase, and was discussing exactly how his company is handling the launch of the highly anticipatedCall of Duty: Black Ops 6.In a franchise first, the game will be available on day one on Xbox Game Pass, a move that Spencer believes gives players the choice of “how you play your games and who you play with, and not try to do slimy platform things to force you to do what I want you to do.”
Especially in regard to the context of theCall of Dutyseries, which famously - prior to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision - had timed-exclusive content on PlayStation, the comments could very well be a slight towards the aforementioned issue. The “slimy” comment from the interview conducted byIGNhas been featured in numerous articles, eventually getting the attention of former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden. Responding to one such article posted on X/Twitter, Layden posted a GIF of actor Will Arnett doing a laughing spit take, clearly showing how he feels about the comment.
Layden apparently also “liked” a number of responses from people criticizing the Xbox leader’s choice of words. In addition to catching a bit of flak from the former PlayStation boss, Phil Spencer has also come under criticism forthe recent Xbox game studio closures. Recently commenting on this issue as well, Spencer stated that he doesn’t take the action of shutting down studios lightly, and that these hard decisions are ones that “somebody needs to go make.”Redfalldeveloper Arkane Austin andHi-Fi Rushdev Tango Gameworks were a few studios that recently ended up on the chopping block.
The Fallout with Phil Spencer
These studio closures have directly resulted inFallout 76players continuously nuking Phil Spencer, an action that players plan to keep on doing as an act of protest. While the initial instance of Spencer’s camp was done by a player who had been planning it weeks before the announcement of the studio closures, the serendipitously-timed move has inspired otherFallout 76players to do the same as a response to the recent developments.
It’s not all bad news for the Xbox boss however, asPhil Spencer is fueling rumors of an Xbox handheld console. At the same event where he made the “slimy” comment, Spencer said he thinks “we should have a handheld too” when an interviewer proposed the concept. While no further details were given, it should be interesting to see what moves Microsoft/Xbox make going forward.
