Phil Spencer's No-BS Attitude Helped Convince Obsidian To Join Xbox
One of the major acquisitions that Microsoft made when it began bolstering its number of first-party studios several years ago was Obsidian Entertainment. The studio behind Neverwinter Nights 2 and Pillars of Eternity joined the Xbox games division in 2018, in a deal that was initiated by Microsoft.
Microsoft wanted games; Obsidian wanted creative freedom to develop the types of games that it was passionate about. Four years later, that deal has seen the company produce the well-received RPG The Outer Worlds, survival video game Grounded, and start work on Avowed, a new fantasy RPG that will be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC.
You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos.
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
Sign up or Sign in now!
By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Now Playing: Why Pentiment Is Fallout New Vegas Designer’s Dream Project
According to Obsidian studio head Feargus Urquhart, Xbox's acquisition philosophy and a promise to allow the studio to retain its creative freedom and culture were key selling points for the deal back in 2018. A meeting with Microsoft Studios head Matt Booty and then-Xbox senior director of business development Noah Musler helped convince him to join the Xbox team, but it was Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer who helped seal the deal.
«I didn't know Phil Spencer well at that time, I probably only talked to him once or twice up to that point,» Urquhart said to IGN. «But what's so interesting with Phil is he is this--I don't know--I don't want to say 'persona' in the end, because he is Phil Spencer and because he runs all Microsoft games. But now knowing him, and even what I knew about him back then, his
Read more on gamespot.com
