Xbox exec tries to put out an increasingly volatile fire, promising to improve Microsoft’s latest AAA flop

wegotthiscovered.com:

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer has finally responded to the tumultuous release of Redfall, and he wants gamers to know he’s just as disappointed as they are.  

Redfall hit shelves and consoles worldwide on May 2 to mixed — mostly negative — reviews. The Microsoft exclusive was plagued by a litany of issues. From glitches and game-breaking bugs to the broken promise of higher frame rates, the undercooked title brought down a horde of angry fans demanding an explanation — and in extreme cases, calling for Spencer’s firing.

In an interview with Kinda Funny Games, Spencer addressed the Redfall debacle, saying it was disappointing on many levels.

“There’s nothing that’s more difficult for me than disappointing the Xbox community and watching the community lose confidence, [and] be disappointed.” He went on, “I’m disappointed, I’m upset with myself.”

It wasn’t empty platitudes and groveling, however. While Spencer may be upset with how fans reacted to the title, he really isn’t apologizing for how it was received. He spoke about the technical issues, saying that though they are prevalent, Xbox’s telemetry reports showed the glitches, bugs, and crashing errors all at normal and acceptable levels.

Bugs and glitches are a part of any online rollout. The size and scope of today’s games simply don’t afford AAA developers the luxury of creating a “perfect game” anymore. That isn’t to say that studios should get a free pass when it comes to these issues, especially when games are now arriving with $70 price tags. But there does need to be a middle ground struck.

When Xbox announced the delay of Halo: Infinite back in 2021, fans lost their minds. Gamers were furious. When Redfall’s — along with Starfield’s — release was delayed until 2023, fans were