Xbox leader Phil Spencer has said that the new console will be on schedule, even if the launch titles for the next-gen platform suffer delays. Microsoft has said before that they will remain committed to the Xbox Series X’s original release timeline of coming out before the end of 2020. The ongoing disruptions thanks to COVID-19, which has infected more than 3.5 million people and is behind nearly 250,000 deaths, have led to a ton of problems in the games industry.
Microsoft has been consistent about supporting their partners during this time. Many in-development games have been relying on dev kits and other direct support from Microsoft to handle the transition to remote work smoothly. Microsoft has been trying to help in the best way they can. Various other companies have said they are working hard, but that the delays from COVID-19 problems could be unavoidable.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has commented that “We are not seeing significant impact to our own timelines, but we are in touch with all our partners and if there’s a need to adjust in order to do what’s best for them and for our players, we will do so,” said Guillemot. In addition, he commended Microsoft and Sony for permitting “developers to keep using their dev kits”
Ubisoft has said that their newest big AAA release, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, will be coming to the Xbox Series X. The new game will get gameplay later this week, and is due to launch for the new console as a launch title.
Xbox Game Studios are “hard at work on some big summer plans.” It’s expected that the company will reveal a bunch more of these plans during that live stream. The specs for the Xbox Series X have already been revealed, suggesting a stong platform that seeks to bridge the power gap between PCs and consoles. The 8K-capable console may lead to a big shakeup for gaming.
Spencer spurned this speculation in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Alley. “Overall, I think we’re in line with where we thought we’d be,” said Spencer. “I’d say the bigger unknown is probably the game production. Game production is a large scale entertainment activity now, you have hundreds of people coming together, building assets, working through creative.”
Spencer also made it clear that the stability and security of the family of Xbox first-party and partners is vital to the success of the new console. The gaming giant will not “push when things just aren’t ready.”
The Xbox Series X will launch in holiday 2020.
