Background: TOP 12 interesting facts about Phil Spencer, leader of Microsoft Gaming
Phil Spencer heads Microsoft Gaming, the company’s gaming division. Usually, the names of top executives stay beneath the public radar. Yet Spencer became a well-known figure online thanks to his bold moves and memorable memes. This article gathers the most interesting facts about him.
I loved programming since childhood
It was his father who sparked a lifelong interest in technology for young Phil. In the early 1980s he bought a Sinclair ZX81, setting the stage for early exploration into computing. As a student, Spencer wrote code on the more capable Atari ST. His major was science and technology communication, and programming remained a fun hobby for many years.
Spencer appreciated the famous meme featuring him. It’s a Photoshop recreation based on a frame from the movie Commando, with Phil replacing Arnold Schwarzenegger and an Xbox Series substitute for a grenade launcher.
Have you ever tried programming?
I ended up at Microsoft by chance and stayed with the company for life
Phil attended the University of Washington while working at the Computer Mart, selling games and software. There he kept programming. A friend noticed his talent and offered him a summer internship at Microsoft. The team was developing the Windows graphical shell for MS-DOS and needed programmers. Phil accepted. After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1990, he joined Microsoft full-time.
In the 1990s, Microsoft hadn’t released its own consoles yet, so powerful tech was showcased using third-party games. For instance, a video once showed Bill Gates with a shotgun in a level from the first Doom.
Spencer held a variety of roles at Microsoft. He began with CD-based software releases, then managed Microsoft Works and Picture It!, and after the Xbox console’s debut in the early 2000s, he moved to the gaming division. In 2008 he became head of Microsoft Studios, in 2014 led Xbox, Xbox Live, Groove Music and Movies & TV, and in 2017 he rose to executive vice president of the gaming division. Today, Spencer oversees all things related to video games and reports directly to Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft.
Plays games all his life
His move into Microsoft’s gaming division wasn’t accidental. From childhood, video games drew him in. Even during Microsoft Teams conferences, he’s known to play. He now has a dedicated second computer at work for gaming. In the 90s his main hobby was Ultima Online, and since 2017, Lot 2 has joined the list. He spent many hours in Vampire Survivors, Starfield, Diablo 4 and Pillars of Eternity. He reportedly stopped Skull and Bones moments after its launch.
Many users view Spencer’s remarks about spending hundreds of hours in Starfield as a promotion for a Bethesda game.
Prevent Microsoft from canceling console production
In mid-2013, with the Xbox One launch approaching, a major reorganization took place at Microsoft. The head of Xbox, Don Mattrick, left for Zynga in July, and the head of platform development, Mark Whitten, moved to the Windows division. The console team was split into several parts. Thanks largely to Spencer, the Xbox One shipped on time on November 22, 2013.
Initially, the Xbox One included Kinect. The Xbox One S, released under Spencer, was smaller and lacked a touch controller. The gap in power with the PlayStation 4 narrowed with the release of the Xbox One X.
In February 2014, Microsoft’s CEO Steven Ballmer stepped down and was replaced by Satya Nadella. The question emerged: is it worth continuing console production if the PlayStation 4 seems to outpace it? Spencer argued against drastic cuts and instead found a path to save the platform, notably through Game Pass.
Introducing Game Pass, whose success many doubted
Game Pass is a subscription service for Microsoft consoles and PCs that launched on Xbox One on May 24, 2017. It offers access to a large game library for a modest monthly fee. New titles are added to the catalog at launch, so players can try them right away without extra purchases. If the subscription ends, access to the library ends as well. This model brought immediate opportunities for games like Atomic Heart to appear in Game Pass upon release. [Citation: VG Times]
Today, Game Pass is considered a core part of the gaming ecosystem. Some fans were upset when GTA 6 wouldn’t appear in the service.
When Spencer proposed the idea, executives doubted whether the subscription could pay off. Early on, publishers were reluctant to participate. Yet the subscriber count grew to around 41 million, turning Game Pass into a steady revenue stream for Microsoft.
Added backwards compatibility on Xbox consoles
Backward compatibility was not automatic on new generations. For a long time, discs from older consoles couldn’t be played on newer ones. The Xbox One initially lacked this feature, but it was announced on June 15, 2015, and the first games from prior generations appeared on the Xbox later that year. The Series X/S later inherited this capability as well.
The Xbox One and Series X/S can run many iconic Microsoft franchises, including Gears of War, Halo and Fable.
The idea of enabling access to classics across generations came from Spencer, who views games as lasting artistic works that shouldn’t disappear with new hardware.
Interestingly, PlayStation 5 also gained backward compatibility for older titles in 2020, enabling most PS4 games to run on the newer system.
Which Microsoft console do you think is the best?
Refused exclusives for Xbox consoles and pushed for cross-play with PlayStation
In June 2016, Microsoft stated that new Xbox games would also appear on PC. Spencer championed this approach, arguing against exclusive releases. He even negotiated in the early 2000s with Lionhead Studios about Fable remaining on the original Xbox. Now many Microsoft projects debut on PC and some even reach rival consoles. Examples include Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush, which recently arrived on PlayStation 5.
During the seventh generation of consoles, a heated rivalry existed between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, where first-class exclusives often decided purchases. Nintendo’s Wii emerged as a different winner in that era.
Spencer also pushed for Sony to allow cross-play with PC and Xbox. His advocacy paid off as many titles across genres now enable cross-play, including Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty features.
Note that Sony has adopted the trend of releasing PlayStation titles on PC as well. Today, most PlayStation 5 exclusives appear on PC after a disadvantageous gap.
What do you remember most about Phil Spencer?
Made an impression at E3 2021
As Microsoft’s representative, Spencer attended numerous conferences, including E3. Fans recall the 2019 showcase when Xbox Series power was unveiled.
A trailer showcased titles like Stalker 2, Psychonauts 2, Forza Horizon 5, A Plague Tale Requiem, Starfield, The Outer Worlds 2 and Atomic Heart. It was also announced that these games would appear directly on Game Pass.
Receives an award for industry contribution from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences
On February 25, 2022, Phil Spencer received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 25th DICE Awards. Typically, laureates are individuals who have demonstrated impact across multiple areas over a long career. The award was presented by Todd Howard, executive producer at Bethesda, part of Microsoft.
After Microsoft’s acquisitions of Bethesda Softworks and Obsidian, rumors circulated about Fallout: New Vegas 2. Yet no new installment in the series has been released since.
Closed the biggest deal in the gaming industry
On October 13, 2023, Activision Blizzard joined Microsoft for 68.7 billion dollars. A separate article covered this topic. This wasn’t the sole major acquisition under Spencer. In September 2014, Microsoft bought Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft, and on September 21, 2020, Zenimax, including Bethesda Softworks, was acquired for 7.5 billion. Additional transactions are discussed in related materials.
What do you remember about Phil Spencer? Share your thoughts in the comments. [Citation: VG Times]