Ex-Xbox Leaders Upset with Microsoft's Game Path
Laura Fryer, once an Xbox boss and part of the team that built the first console, has given a harsh view of Microsoft's game plan now. After they said they'd work with ASUS on a new handheld, she feels Xbox hardware is pretty much gone.
Laura Fryer: "Xbox Hardware is Dead"
In a video talk, Fryer, who also helped make the first two Gears of War games, said Microsoft is leaving behind what made Xbox work well. She thinks this new handheld shows just how bad their plan is now.
Handheld Issues and No Special Games
"I don't see why anyone would get this device," Fryer said, noting that it runs on a kind of Windows and doesn't bring anything new. The big problem, she noted, is no new games just for this device to pull people to buy it.
"Xbox doesn't do special games now," she said. "Even if Xbox brings out an amazing game, Xbox Anywhere means I can play it on any device... on Xbox or PC. I might even play it on a PS5 or a Switch. So, why would I get the ROG Ally."
A "Lost Culture of Getting Things Done"
Fryer also hit at the company's slow game release speed, talking about games like State of Decay 3, Perfect Dark, and Fable, which have been in the works for over five years. "It's because Xbox lost the know-how of launching big things," she claimed. "They lack the team and the ways needed to launch."
She ended with a heavy word: "From what I see, it feels like Xbox does not want or just can't launch hardware now... I think Xbox hardware is gone. The plan seems to be pushing everyone to Game Pass."
Mike Ybarra Says the Same: Xbox Feels "Lost"
Mike Ybarra, a former Xbox VP and now the boss at Activision Blizzard, shared similar thoughts on X (formerly Twitter).
"Hard to watch Xbox unsure of its role and goal," Ybarra wrote. "Pick your path and stick with it." When someone replied that the brand covers both an ecosystem and a console, Ybarra answered, "You’re missing the point. Ask anyone on the street about Xbox and most will say it's a game console. That's what it is. Full stop."
The Official Plan: Moving from Console Fights
Both past bosses think Xbox should focus back on consoles. Yet, Microsoft's “Everything is an Xbox” idea seems from their losses in console fights against Sony and Nintendo.
While Fryer's "hardware is dead" comment hits hard, it's key to note that Microsoft just said they’re working with AMD on new devices, including one after the Xbox Series X. This shows that while plans are growing, leaving console making may not happen soon, even if it looks that way longer term.
