Ah, 2019. A simpler time. A time when Xbox fans like me would stare at our consoles and whisper, "Is this it?" The Xbox One era was... let's just say it was a character-building experience. But then Phil Spencer opened his mouth in an interview with Kotaku, and hope flickered like a dying controller battery. He talked about acquiring eight new studios, including Double Fine, and giving teams the time they need. I remember reading that and thinking, "Sure, Phil. I'll believe it when I see it." Well, it's 2026 now, and I'm eating my words. With a side of humble pie. 🥧

In that interview, Spencer admitted that managing a portfolio was tough when you needed everything to hit a date picked three years in advance. He said, "The support that we're getting now... has allowed us to invest in our first-party, adding eight new studios and really create room for us to focus on quality." And focus on quality they did. It wasn't an overnight fix. The Xbox One's final years were still a bit of a drought. But the seeds were planted. And now, in 2026, those seeds have grown into a lush, game-filled jungle. I can't even keep up with my backlog. It's a beautiful problem to have.

Spencer also talked about not feeling the need to announce things prematurely just to win some rating system. "I feel like I can give teams the time they need in order to get the right creative positions in place so they're building the game that they want to build." That philosophy has become Xbox's mantra. Remember when we used to get CG trailers for games that wouldn't come out for five years? Now, we still get some of those, but at least the games actually come out. And they're good! Mostly. Cough Redfall cough. But hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day. And Xbox has way more than two hits now.

Then there was Game Pass. Oh, Game Pass. The service that made me stop buying games at full price and start feeling like a kid in a candy store. Spencer discussed Sea of Thieves and how its launch on Game Pass helped it evolve. He recalled the feedback: "Where's the other half of the game?" But he argued that the game wouldn't be what it is today if they had waited another year. And he was right. Sea of Thieves is now a beloved pirate sandbox with more content than you can shake a cutlass at. It's a testament to the idea that sometimes, launching a game and iterating is better than perfecting it in silence. Of course, sometimes it backfires. But Rare stuck with it, and now I can't stop singing sea shanties. 🏴‍☠️

Now, let's fast forward to 2026. The Xbox Series X and Series S (remember Project Scarlett?) have been out for over five years. The first-party lineup is stacked. We've had Halo Infinite (which turned out great after a rocky start), Forza Horizon 5 (still the best racing game ever), Starfield (love it or hate it, it's ambitious), Hellblade II: Senua's Saga (a visual masterpiece), Avowed (finally!), Fable (the reboot we deserved), and so many more. Plus, with the acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, Xbox is a first-party powerhouse. I never thought I'd see the day.

Let me put it in perspective:

Of course, not everything is perfect. Xbox still has its missteps. But the overall trajectory is undeniable. Phil Spencer's promise to give teams time and invest in quality has paid off. And as a longtime Xbox gamer, I feel vindicated. I no longer have to defend my console of choice at parties. Well, I still do, but now I have ammo.

So here's to 2026. The year Xbox finally silenced the "no games" crowd. And here's to Phil Spencer, who somehow managed to turn a sinking ship into a fleet of galleons. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go play the new Fable. I've been waiting since 2019. And it was worth it. 🎮