Xbox Boss: Series X Has Hardware, Launch Games Edge Over PS5

Executive Vice President for Gaming at Microsoft Phil Spencer felt good about his own Xbox Series X after seeing what Sony has for the PlayStation 5.

Speaking at the Gamelab Live conference on Wednesday, a reaction was asked from Spencer regarding the recent much-ballyhooed PS5 reveal event as Sony not only debuted its actual console, several games and trailers were also presented.

Noting that he sent Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan a note of congratulations for their efforts, Video Games Chronicle reports that Spencer said, “I watched the show, I thought they did a good job. As a competitor it’s great to have them out there now so we kind of know what the program is, we see the device, we see the games.”

Elaborating further, Spencer pointed out a few advantages that the Microsoft Xbox Series X will have over its chief rival. “Just being honest, I felt good after seeing their show. I think the hardware advantages that we have built are going to show up as we’re talking more about our games and frame rates and other things,” he said.

“I thought the games line-up that we’re going to have at launch I felt really good about, and we got more clarity on what they’re doing at their show which just helped us focus in on more of what we have, and I think that will be a strength for us at launch,” Spencer said.

Ahead of the Xbox Series X first-party games showcase scheduled for July, Spencer liked what he’s seeing from his side thus far. “So I thought they did a good job, I thought they do what they do very well and they did that, but when I think about the position that we’re in, with the games that we’re going to be able to show and how they’re going to show up, and the hardware advantage that we have, I think we’re in a very good position,” he said.

Spencer is aware that Microsoft’s first next-gen software reveal event in May focused too much on third-party games, leaving many viewers underwhelmed, notes Video Game Chronicle. “So I feel good about July and the gameplay that we’re going to be showing there and the hardware capability,” he said.

As for specific games for people to look forward to, one game, in particular, is looking like the centerpiece for the Xbox Series X actual launch late in the year. “Teams are working hard to get it lined up, we’ve taken feedback from our last event and I think people are really going to be pleased with what we’re going to be showing there. ‘Halo Infinite’ will be a big part of it and I think that’s obviously an important title for us.”

With the release of a “Halo Infinite” video teaser from 343 Industries last week, the game itself is described as a “spiritual reboot” of Xbox’s flagship shooter series, which launched in 2001. In addition, Spencer noted that Microsoft’s Xbox All Access console subscription model will be critical to the console’s launch and the overall hardware generation.