Phil Spencer apologizes as Bethesda delays raise questions about Xbox pipeline

polygon.com:

Game delays happen all the time, and they’re always disappointing. But this week’s announcement of delays to two Bethesda titles and Xbox console exclusives — Starfield, from Bethesda Game Studios, and Redfall, from Arkane — has hit particularly hard.

The two games were given 2022 dates during last year’s summer Xbox showcase, and represent the first real fruits of Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda. They will be the first Bethesda games since the buyout not to be released on PlayStation, and to be added on day one to the Xbox Game Pass library. Starfield, in particular, was hotly anticipated, being the first major RPG from the makers of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and Fallout 4 in seven years.

Both have now been pushed to the first half of 2023. Crucially, this leaves Xbox without any significant releases from its internal studios scheduled for 2022. Fans are, naturally, not happy; last year, Microsoft promised it would bring “at least one” first-party game every quarter to Game Pass.

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer took to Twitter to offer support for the delay as well as a helping of contrition. “These decisions are hard on teams making the games & our fans. While I fully support giving teams time to release these great games when they are ready, we hear the feedback,” he wrote. “Delivering quality & consistency is expected, we will continue to work to better meet those expectations.”

These decisions are hard on teams making the games & our fans. While I fully support giving teams time to release these great games when they are ready, we hear the feedback. Delivering quality & consistency is expected, we will continue to work to better meet those expectations. https://t.co/mIfXGd3rui

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