Nearly every corner of the world is currently feeling the pressures from the novel coronavirus. Obviously, industries like healthcare and food services are going to bear the biggest chunk of the strain; however, even areas like video game development could be affected in the coming months. If you’re a platform holder like Microsoft or Sony looking to ship a new console in 2020, that’s a difficult situation to face. With most employees now working from home, making a video game (already a challenge) just became a much bigger ask. In a new interview with IGN’s Podcast Unlocked, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer spoke to the developing situation.
One of the bigger talking points from the conversation was whether or not the Xbox Series X launch would be held back if any individual games were delayed. Spencer was quick to talk about Halo Infinite, saying “they’re staying on top of the issues, they’re learning as well, just like we all are.” But, even with Halo’s iconic history for Xbox, Spencer said, “I don’t think we would hold back the launch of the overall platform for any individual game.”
In many ways, this isn’t a surprising stance to take. For one, launch lineups hardly tell the full story of a console. Just look at the PS4 launch lineup. Not a single killer app among them. On top of that, Xbox’s focus on services is what has given them momentum heading into the next generation. And Spencer is adamant that is what needs to be ready for launch. “I don’t want to ship a piece of hardware where the platforms not completely there,” he said. Jokingly, he mentioned that “we’ve done that before.” This go-around, the service and the hardware “have to stay linked.” That is what turned the tide for Xbox this generation. And it appears to be the horse they’re hitching their post to for Series X.
Microsoft plans to have Xbox Series X out this fall. Stay with DualShockers for updates on the upcoming consoles.
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Source: https://www.dualshockers.com/xbox-series-x-halo-infinite-no-delay
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