Microsoft admits first-party 360 release bungle

By Johnny Minkley Published 18 October, 2006

"Gaps were too long this year."

A senior Microsoft executive has admitted that the firm bungled its release schedule earlier this year on Xbox 360, resulting in gaps which were "too long from a first-party".

Speaking to our sister site GamesIndustry.biz, Microsoft Games Studio general manager Phil Spencer acknowledged the disappointment the firm had caused consumers and retailers with a staggering 210-day void between first-party releases Dead Or Alive 4 on 27th Janaury, and Ninety-Nine Nights on 25th August in the UK.

"I won't duck the question. Obviously our job as a first-party publisher is to lead on our platform and to create content not only that appeals to a broad set of customers, but also content that comes out with a regular pacing to continue to freshen the shelves," Spencer said. "But I wouldn't disagree with you that there were periods this year where there were gaps that were too long from first-party."

Microsoft's gaming blackspot was mirrored by a paucity of heavyweight third-party releases over a particular barren summer during which the firm arguably failed to capitalise on good early momentum and the absence of Sony's rival PlayStation 3 system.

"Obviously launch was a very challenging time - I was very proud of the three launch titles we had in Kameo, Perfect Dark and Project Gotham. To have three launch games is a good statement from a first-party," Spencer insisted. "We would love it if the pacing of our first-party games fit exactly with the calendar, but sometimes they don't."

However, Spencer promised that, having negotiated through this unconvincing period, Microsoft Games Studios and third parties were now hitting their stride with Christmas approaching.

"The more rosy picture is our pacing going forward; it's set up where you won't see those gaps," he claimed. "You see the set-up now on the platform, starting with Viva Pinata, then Gears of War, Crackdown, Forza, Mass Effect, Fable 2, Halo 3. We understand the production of the game such that I feel very good about the strength of the quality of the portfolio and, to your point, the timeliness of the portfolio on 360."

He continued: "[But] we're not going to let the date drive when a first party game comes out, because a bad first-party game coming out at the right time doesn't matter."

UK Xbox boss Neil Thompson backed this up, telling GI.biz: "When you bring out a platform, there's a ramp up phase that you go through and a lot of third-parties as well as ourselves look to the Christmas season as a key point to release some of the bigger franchise titles.

"The platform is more than first-party, and from a third-party point of view, we've got a great offering out there. By Christmas there'll be 160 games on the platform and I think that's pretty good choice."

Picture of Johnny.

About Johnny Minkley

Eurogamer TV's Johnny Minkley is a veteran journalist with a lifelong passion for games and the games industry. He uses Twitter more than most people use air.

Read more articles from Johnny by visiting the Johnny Minkley archive page.

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Comments (53) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • lefizz #1 5 years ago

    summer was very slow

  • JetSetWilly #2 5 years ago

    Rod, Jane and Freddy.

  • bauhaus #3 5 years ago

    spent too much time shoveling 20 year old "nostalgic" crap onto the thing

  • jellyhead #4 5 years ago

    Rested on their laurels when the PS3 was delayed i'd imagine.
    You lot are going to be crying when MS release 20,000 games in March next year to combat the PS3 launch. Empty wallets all around and not enough hours in the day to play them all methinks.

  • asphaltcowboy #5 5 years ago

    MS in a downward spiral? I'd say they were about to ramp up big-time!

  • Johnson #6 5 years ago

    Microsoft admits fault? Don't they know how hardware manufacturers are supposed to behave?

    "We'll release whatever we want, whenever we want and people would pay $150 for it. Consumers consider themselves lucky to hand us cash... etc. etc.

  • kangarootoo #7 5 years ago

    Its a good attitude to have. Saying " must try harder" is much better than denial. There is still a shortage of titles for my tastes, but these things do take time and they have been getting better.

  • Anthony_UK #8 5 years ago

    @ Jellyhead - Nevermind March next year!

    Have you seen the releases for the rest of this month and november!!!!!!!

    Pro evo
    Fifa (if that floats your boat)
    Gears of War
    Stranglehold
    Splinter Cell
    Rainbow 6
    Fear
    Brothers in Arms
    Medal of Honor
    Call Of Duty 3
    WWE v Raw
    Alone In The Dark
    Tony Hawk.................


    Anyone got a spare £500 to lend me :-(
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 17:25

  • repairmanjack #9 5 years ago

    That future release list in any kind of order?

    Fable 2...

  • DutchDemons #10 5 years ago

    I agree that this is better than denying or lying about stuff.

    Besides, i didn't really notice the whole gap anyway. I was massively absorbed with Oblivion and BF: MC followed by LOTR, Prey and occasionally FIFA. I guesss if all those games didn't mean anything to you, then ye...it was kinda slow:-)

    Now with this insane november coming (the tons of games that is) i can't seee myself facing a gap next march either ( I tend to fully enjoy my games and not rush through them).

  • Forebodin #11 5 years ago

    "SONY appear to be on a downward spiral at the present time."

    Fixed.

    Seriously though, beginning today and on the 20th in the US and the UK respectively, the games line-up for the Xbox 360 is strong. The oncoming two-fold wave of competition will benefit all 'next-gen' partaking consumers.
    Edited by 2 at 18/10/06 @ 17:35

  • drumbaby #12 5 years ago

    That's really not the way to capitalize on a rushed launch :)

  • effinwooly #13 5 years ago

    fair play.........i suppose

  • Roamer #14 5 years ago

    No exclusive AAA titles yet out for the Xbox 360, and none coming in the next year either. Gears of War is reportedly a bit too standard to be considered a triple-A, although the Hype would have you believe otherwise. Sony should regain the lost ground quickly indeed unless Microsoft shapes up.

    Edit: Ah, almost forgot about Halo 3 - mainly because I was sorely dissappointed by the previous iterations.
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 18:12

  • sharpfish #15 5 years ago

    "Gears of War is reportedly a bit too standard to be considered a triple-A"

    Can you clarify what you mean by this and your sources?

    There has been too much time between big releases, thankfully Capcom filled in with Dead Rising and there were some other 3rd party games of note.

    Apart from PGR3 though, those initial 5 first party games he talked of were all crap. Luckily, the upcomming first party titles towards Xmas and early next year of much higher quality and worth looking forward to.

    I doubt Sony will be much different either for 12 months.

  • Zomoniac #16 5 years ago

    No exclusive AAA titles yet out for the Xbox 360, and none coming in the next year either.

    Halo 3
    Assassin's Creed
    Bioshock
    Mass Effect
    Alan Wake
    Forza 2
    Fable 2
    Lost Planet
    Resident Evil 5
    GTA4

    Off the top of my head...

  • captainrentboy #17 5 years ago

    Roamer how will Sony regain lost ground quickly?
    Is it due to all those AAA exclusive titles that they'll be releasing in the first couple of months,well I say all of those,Resistance is about it isn't it? :/
    Back to the news,yeah I agree that there certainly was a lack of first party software in this first year,and it's good that they've admitted it,but a lot of the 3rd party 360 releases tided me over nicely anyway.

  • Rambaldi #18 5 years ago

    At least they're honest. Even more damming is that after all that time they release a pile of bile like NNNights.

    That said, the coming month (first and third party) looks like one of the best in gaming history IMHO.

  • Xerx3s #19 5 years ago

    Oh god, why on earth do ppl even read the roamer trolling?

    And the guy is right though: ms ARE lazy bastards when it comes to first party releases (most of those are: done when they are done).
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 18:54

  • The-Bodybuilder #20 5 years ago

    >"Gears of War is reportedly a bit too standard to be considered a triple-A"

    Mind backing up this statement with some of those "reports".
    Or are you one of those "other console-friendly" person in disguise?

  • Bates #21 5 years ago

    No games worth playing then? I could have told you that! ;)

    Gears of War still looks dull as hell too. Hype and graphics and little else.

  • DCrider360 #22 5 years ago

    GEARS OF WAR will undeniabley obliterate ANY ps shooter 2 eyes closed!!!!

    any person who disagrees is obviously a pussy!!!!


  • BartonFink #23 5 years ago

    Well at least they have the guts to admit shortcomings unlike another company we won't mention.

    So MS get yer arse in gear!!!

  • BrokenSymmetry #24 5 years ago

    "Gears of War is reportedly a bit too standard to be considered a triple-A"

    "Too standard", in which respect? The 3rd-person shooter is not a particularly crowded genre, I would say...

  • jiveguy #25 5 years ago

    Its too standard because its not on the PS3. Otherwise it would be groundbreaking, superior in graphics and gameplay and about 25 gig.

    I despair at people who deny themselves to opportunity play certain games, good or bad, just because they are on one platform or another. Or from one side of the world or the other. Crazy, the lot of them.

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #26 5 years ago

    Zomoniac, many of those are not exclusive to the 360 though:

    Halo 3 (360 exclusive) halos 1 & 2 are on PC aswell
    Assassin's Creed (360, PS3, PC)
    Bioshock (360, PS3, PC)
    Mass Effect (360 exclusive)
    Alan Wake (360, PC) well, console exclusive at least
    Forza 2 (360 exclusive)
    Fable 2 (360 exclusive) as of yet, fable is on PC aswell
    Lost Planet (360 exclusive)
    Resident Evil 5 (360, PS3)
    GTA4 (360, PS3)

    So.
    Halo 3, Mass Effect, Alan Wake, Forza 2, Fable 2, Lost Planet, Gears of War

    That's at least a couple of big, heavy titles.
    I'll see if I can dig up some more..
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 20:32

  • Vin #27 5 years ago

    Bloody hell - would all the GOW naysayers fuck off back to Gamesradar where prejudging games BEFORE release are common practice.

    And to the titular article - it makes a bloody change from Sony's usual mantra.

  • Xerx3s #28 5 years ago

    Well, it's oke to not buy a system when what you prefer caters your needs (your not going to eat more food when you are already stuffed just because its there). But simply bashing a game because it's "<a href='http://www. vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=36'>z0mg! The enemy!</a>".

    GoW has all the potential to be a good game, I think it will do a 7 or so. The recent footage of R:FoM shows that it is really shaping up to finally lvl the playing field on consoles when it comes to FPS. Tjees peeps, if you really like [insert fav game here], why don't you go and watch more of their vids <a href='http://www.gametrailers. com/'>here</a> instead of feeling insecure about them over here?

  • Xerx3s #29 5 years ago

    Jonathan, Bioshock -> X06, I'm pretty sure that it will be exclusive for at least 10-12 months. That's as much as you can get out of non First Party exclusives these days it seems...
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 20:45

  • jiveguy #30 5 years ago

    [It appears the post by Lex_Luthor that this was made in response to has vanished into the internet! I'll leave it anyway.]


    OK

    (huh?)


    I was just pointing out that fan of console X saying game on console Y isnt great purely because it's not on console X is the most fucking ridiculous thing a gamer can say. I'm sorry if I used your favourite console in the example :)
    Edited by 1 at 18/10/06 @ 20:56

  • Lex_Luthor #31 5 years ago

    "I was just pointing out that fan of console X saying game on console Y isnt great purely because it's not on console X is the most fucking ridiculous thing a gamer can say. I'm sorry if I used your favourite console in the example :)"

    Looked to me like you were using this as another opportunity to take a swipe at the PS3 for no reason other than someone slated a game on your favourite console to me. Seems like you're assuming a bit here, and not for the first time.

    I deleted the post because I realised I didn't actually want to get into this. So much for that...
    Edited by 2 at 18/10/06 @ 21:20

  • captainrentboy #32 5 years ago

    I agree with jiveguy in that you have to be a particuarly sad bastard if you make the choice not to play a game that is getting unanimous praise just because it's on your rival brand's console.
    Then again in real life surely no-one is that sad right?
    Ohh and people naming 360 exclusives forgot Too Human by the way :)

  • dk_rare #33 5 years ago

    We've already spent our money on titty bars and cocain, if they release too many games at once now we wont be able to afford them all

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #34 5 years ago

    Oh. I just hit up a gamespot search, didn't count in timed exlusives.
    ("Xerxes"? You're a big systemshock fan then, I guess :D)

    Bioshock is really a great title for them to have exclusive on.


    Well, anyway, I found some more:
    (these now, are all 360 exlusives)
    Halo 3, Mass Effect, Alan Wake, Forza 2, Fable 2, Lost Planet, Gears of War, Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Splinter Cell 5, Too Human, Crackdown, Viva Pinata, Kane & Lynch (timed exclusive?), Project Gotham Racing 4...

    Oh, damn, yeah. NINJA GAIDEN 2, of course. (We all know it's coming)

    Those are some really big titles there.
    But there's still going to be a big fight against the PS3:

    Metal Gear Solid 4, White Knight Story, Heavenly Sword, Virtua Fighter 5, Gran Turismo HD, Final Fantasy XIII, FF Versus XIII, L.A. Noire, Resistance: Fall of Man


    Actually, if I'm going to be honest, for me, the Mass Effect and Too Human trilogies, aswell as the TGS dump of 360 exclusive RPG's (Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, Misty Bell) makes the 360 the winner (for now).

    I need to get a PS3 in time for MGS/FFs/White Knight though.
    Edited by 2 at 18/10/06 @ 21:19

  • Xerx3s #35 5 years ago

    Well no, like I said before, if you don't feel the need to play something, don't. Spend your money and time on something better. But don't go bashing something because it isn't on the system that you like. And I'm sure of it that if GoW was a PS3 exclusive, some of the ppl who are slagging it here (htf it is relevant to the topic only god knows, but I suppose that they feel that it is) would praise it into the heavens instead.

    Oh, and please don't start about lists of who has the most and best exclusives, that would be the saddest incarnation of "my penis is longer" yet.

  • The-Bodybuilder #36 5 years ago

    >"Halo 3 (360 exclusive) halos 1 & 2 are on PC aswell"

    We are talking about H3 here. H3 will be out before H2 is for the PC (a good 3 years after).
    And even that, does not buying a game for a 360, and instead buying it for your windows-based PC somehow means it's not going to MS's pocket?
    Either way, they win.

  • Jonathan_Fakenham #37 5 years ago

    What? It's just a matter of checking out which side has the most dangerous units, before they go into battle. There's definately some science to it, but remember still that there are more factors that decide who will be the victor, if there's even going to be a clear victor.

    I'd say the battle is pretty even, really.

    Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft can all subsist through this next generation, just like they did in the last one. Different audiences, different slices of cake.

  • Roamer #38 5 years ago

    @ Zomoniac:

    Many of the games you mentioned are coming to the PS3, and most are on their way to a PC near you - so we're left with;

    Halo 3 - Although it hasn't been announced, judging by history, this is bound for the PC.
    Mass Effect - I'll give you this one, looks good too
    Forza 2 - Doesn't look to be an AAA title, and even if it is - GT will beat it
    Fable 2 - Will probably end up on the PC
    Lost Planet - Aren't there numerous rumours of this coming to the PS3?


    So we're left with Mass Effect and Forza 2, which will probably be bettered by Gran Turismo 5. Not much if you ask me - none of these are system sellers...

    I'm sure I can't be the only one to have read that Gears of War plays just like any other basic shooter only with squad-based elements? Well, if that's the case I'm sorry. I'm sure I've read it several places though - one of the blogs at 1up, Penny-Arcade, maybe in a preview at Gamespot or IGN. Not sure. Anyway, the gameplay videos do look a bit disappointing in my opinion.

    Now, I'm sure a lot of people would want to argue that some of the games on that list are exclusives because they don't appear on any other console's release list. That is just silly - the PC is a platform just like the others, the point of exclusivity is that you have to buy the platform in question to play that particular game, otherwise it's just pointless to talk about exclusivity.

    Oh, and don't accuse me of being a fanboy. I was stupid enough to go for the Xbox instead of the PS2 last generation which was a big mistake. Thankfully, the Gamecube had a few truly great titles to keep me gaming. I only think that Microsoft's offering this time around is looking quite weak, the only exception (like last time) is if you're a big fan of standard FPS's and racers.

    I'm waiting out this one, I don't want to splash out on any of the platforms unless I'm sure there's a game I really want. Might get a Wii at launch though, if nothing else to show I applaud attempts to innovate.

  • Forebodin #39 5 years ago

    Not as a statement, but rather an FYI:

    Halo Wars
    Splinter Cell 5
    Infinite Undiscovery
    Eternal Sonata
    Lost Odyssey
    Blue Dragon

    Although primarily a FPS/TPS gamer myself, RPG's are my second favorite genre, and I'm particularly looking forward to Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon.

  • Inflatable #40 5 years ago

    Good to see a company like MS admitting stuff like this.. I hope they learned from it.. Personally I want to see more good and fun racing games I can play with my friends.. Atm we only still have PGR3 which is not much.. I hope Forza 2 and Colin McRae: DIRT will fill the gap..

  • MasterThief #41 5 years ago

    Roamer, you silly boy. The reason that a 360 game, even if it is on PC, is talked about as if it's exclusive is because it's a difference market. Think mp3 to mp4. Let's face it, you think console have a geeky image? Well ONLY a certain type of person, generally, plays PC. It's like a whole other market. Let's be fair. 16 year old Jonny Casual Chav, whose fave games are Fifa and Need For Speed, is most likely NOT a PC gamer. Which is why it's all good for MS. The Jonny Casuals have got to buy a 360 to play certain games as they're never going to contemplate the PC version. Fact.

  • Penguinzoot #42 5 years ago

    MT is right.

    Although console gamers and PC gamers as consumer groups may actually intersect in a few places (particularly amongst hardcore gamers), to all intents and purposes they can be considered different markets, and not in competition with each other.

    Thats where the "console exclusive" phrase comes from.

    Thats also why MS isn't particularly bothered about 360 exclusives that also release on the PC, even publishing its own 360 games also as Games for Windows. They don't believe they are competing for the same demographic.

    On the other hand MS are not daft either - I don't think you'll be seeing Halo3 or Forza 2 on PC anytime soon - its obviously in MS' interests to keep its own big 360 guns exclusive to their console for quite a while yet ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/06 @ 00:36

  • dredd97 #43 5 years ago

    @ roamer

    your right mate, Capcom said a few weeks ago they didn't think Lost Planet would stay exclusive on Xbox 360 and that a PS3 port was possible/probable..

    personally hate exclusive titles.. it forces us to buy more than one console... ;)

  • Carrybagma #44 5 years ago

    The Jonny Casuals have got to buy a 360 to play certain games as they're never going to contemplate the PC version.

    fuct, actually. Plenty have PCs, but have no idea how they work and don't really understand the min requirement on the box. If it doesn't work, they take it back. Those that don't have a PC usually have a PS2; they consider anything that isn't on the PS2 as shit. :o(
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/06 @ 01:38

  • Mordum #45 5 years ago

    Whats this, admitting a mistake? no PR spin and no bull*? makes a nice change... maybe other companies can follow suit.
    As has been said, luckily Oblivion was around to satisfy my gaming needs the summer, aswell as a couple of others, so was'nt too much of a problem... plus people spend more time outside in the sun during the summer months, right?.
    Now is a very different story of course, maybe too many quality looking games on the way, I may need a second job! ;)

  • Baz_Dude #46 5 years ago

    Meh, Big titles are coming this way just before X-mas

    Bring on Gears of War!

  • Scimarad #47 5 years ago

    "And the guy is right though: ms ARE lazy bastards when it comes to first party releases (most of those are: done when they are done)."

    Surely "It's done when it's done" is the correct attitude to have not let's rush it out even though it isn't finished.

  • Penguinzoot #48 5 years ago

    Surely "It's done when it's done" is the correct attitude to have not let's rush it out even though it isn't finished.

    I'm sure we can all think of games that were released before they were ready and were severely lacking or buggy as a result.

    It's hard for eager gamers, but "It's done when it's done" is the best dev attitude. Unless you are talking about DNF ;-)

  • peterfll #49 5 years ago

    Well, MS make plenty of stupid statements publicly, but every now and then they show they can be self-aware and self-deprecating.

    Which is more than can be said for Sony.

    Perhaps Sony and MS should follow Nintendo's tack (i.e. say very little or nothing leaving consumers wondering what the hell they're up to).

  • Azazel #50 5 years ago

    Surely "It's done when it's done" is the correct attitude

    True. With the notable exception of Duke Nukem Forever obviously.

  • Vin #51 5 years ago

    "So we're left with Mass Effect and Forza 2, which will probably be bettered by Gran Turismo 5. Not much if you ask me - none of these are system sellers..."

    Good lord.

    What ARE you on about?


  • Jonathan_Fakenham #52 5 years ago

    Mass Effect is going to shit all over any racing game.

    Even more if we're talking about Mass Effect the trilogy (which it is in fact being developed as).

  • Scimarad #53 5 years ago

    Mass Effect does look great...apart from the slightly dodgy looking combat system. I'm eager to be proved wrong here but I'm a bit worried about what I've seen and heard so far...

  • Vin #54 5 years ago

    What the hell? It's not out for another year - and it STILL looks better than the majority of other shit out there.