Microsoft has denied claims that Xbox boss Phil Spencer is set to step down, stating that the exec “isn’t retiring anytime soon.”
On Wednesday, amid Microsoft’s widespread layoffs, claims appeared online that Phil Spencer [730 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/people/phil-spencer/”>Phil Spencer was due to retire from his position soon, with Sarah Bond lined up to succeed him.
However, Microsoft has taken the unusual step of flatly denying the rumor. This claim 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.”
Later on Wednesday, in a statement to The Verge, Microsoft flatly denied the claim, claiming that “Phil is not retiring anytime soon.”
Spencer, who turned 57 in January, has worked at Microsoft since 1988. He joined the Xbox One [6,867 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/xbox/xb1/”>Xbox One launch and the ousting of Don Mattrick. In 2022, Spencer would again be promoted to the new position of CEO of Microsoft Gaming. This came as Microsoft declared its intent to acquire over 9000 staff losing their jobs. The publisher’s reboot of The Initiative has been closed.
Rare’s troubled Everwild has also been cancelled, and several senior developers have left the historic studio.
ZeniMax Online Studios boss Matt Firor has also announced that he is leaving the studio amid the cancellation of Project Blackbird, a long-in-development project at the studio.
