Ex-Blizzard boss says Phil Spencer will be ‘hurting as much as anyone else’ over Xbox studio closures

Former Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra has claimed that Xbox head Phil Spencer will be hurting “as much as anyone else” following the closure of four first-party studios.

On Tuesday, news broke that Microsoft is planning to close Redfall developer Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush maker Tango Gameworks, and fellow Bethesda studios Alpha Dog and Roundhouse.

News of the closures leaked via an internal email from Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty, before being confirmed on official social media channels for some of the studios, as well as through the personal accounts of affected employees and their unhappy colleagues.

The latter included Arkane Lyon studio director Dinga Bakaba, who publicly criticised Microsoft executives for their decision to close several studios, calling the news “a fucking gut stab”.

With no official acknowledgement of today’s events from Xbox itself, the company’s leadership has faced a wave of online criticism from members of the gaming community who feel that mismanagement and corporate greed are to blame for the studio closures.

But Xbox boss Phil Spencer has received a show of support from ex-Blizzard president Ybarra, who recently left the World of Warcraft studio as part of mass layoffs at Microsoft’s gaming division that were announced in January, and which today’s studio closures are likely part of.

I see a lot of shots at Phil over today’s Xbox announcements. I get it. But knowing him as a human, I know this hurts him as much as anyone else. I can’t speak for all of the leadership there, but I do know him and I do know what he is likely going through.

I’m not trying to…

— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) May 7, 2024

“I see a lot of shots at Phil over today’s Xbox announcements,” he wrote on X. “I get it. But knowing him as a human, I know this hurts him as much as anyone else. I can’t speak for all of the leadership there, but I do know him and I do know what he is likely going through.

“I’m not trying to defend the decisions. I think we all get ourselves into situations that are tough and unexpected (certainly I have). It’s part of the job, as is the accountability for the outcomes. But he’s a good human and he cares deeply for the creative process and developers. That’s my first hand experience in working closely with him for 8+ years and knowing him for 24+.

Unfortunately, you learned absolutely nothing, Xbox. pic.twitter.com/3WLPXRTzFC

— Klobrille (@klobrille) May 7, 2024

“I 100% understand the anger and confusion, and I feel deeply sorry for those teams impacted today and over the last few months,” Ybarra continued. “I didn’t agree with every decision he made at Xbox, and I think that was pretty clear, but I do believe in his product leadership and I know how hard these decisions can be.

“Xbox could have a very bright future. I hope they are able to realizes it and all of the teams have an incredible experience together. It’s certainly a tough time that needs great clarity into what the plan ahead is and how gamers everywhere can be excited for it.”