Phil Spencer applauds Sony’s commitment to new IP, discusses importance of “long-term commitment” to franchises

By Stephany Nunneley

Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer believes “long-term commitment” to franchises is important, and has applauded Sony for it’s willingness to invest in new IP and focus squarely on the consumer.

Speaking in the latest issue of OXM, Spencer used Quantic Dream titles such as Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls as two example of Sony’s tenacity to bankroll new ideas.

“Sony – and I’m focused on first-party because of what I do – I really respect their focus on investing in new things and creative things, what they’ve done with David Cage and Quantic Dream around Beyond: Two Souls and Heavy Rain,” he said. “They stay committed to franchises even if they don’t sell 10 million units, they’ll stay committed to things.

“I think that long-term commitment to franchises is important, where it’s easy to pull off the Band-Aid and move onto the next thing [if it doesn’t sell]. I respect their stick-to-it-iveness. I’ll say, they’ve done a nice job with PS4… When I think about their announcement, their clear focus on a customer, leading with the value proposition of what they’re trying to do, staying true to a vision, I think they’ve done a nice job in how they defined the PS4.”

Spencer also had glowing things to say about first-party Nintendo titles, citing the firm’s ability to “lead what they do as a company” with their original IP and – in a sense- build its platforms around said IPs.

“They have such iconic stories and this will seem somewhat random, but when we go back and do something like Killer Instinct, a little bit of the history of your franchise can actually be important part of people feeling connected,” said Spencer. “Obviously the history of Killer Instinct isn’t a history on Xbox, but it’s Rare’s history and I think the reaction when we announced it on-stage at E3 showed that playing to the people’s heart, I think Nintendo does that as well as anybody in terms of hitting the franchises and having huge success with them.”

You can read the entire interview with Spencer in the latest edition of OXM.