Phil Spencer's Big TGS Interview: 'Halo' Isn't Dead (Sure, Phil) and the Next Xbox Is Just Software
Phil Spencer was in Japan for Tokyo Game Show 2025, doing his annual "I really love Japan" tour. He showed up for Hideo Kojima's 10th-anniversary event and even cut a ribbon for NINJA GAIDEN 4.
Famitsu managed to pin him down for an interview, and he gave some very interesting, beautifully spun answers about Kojima's delayed game, the future of Halo, and what the "next Xbox" actually is.
He kicked off by hyping the TGS broadcast, which showed off 25 titles, and gave a lot of love to third-party partners like Capcom for Monster Hunter Stories and Square Enix for Romancing SaGa 2.
But let's get to the real meat of the interview.
So, Where's Kojima's 'OD'?
Famitsu asked for an update on OD. Phil said he's "very happy" with the quality of the trailer and that Kojima wants to make a "very scary game". He confirmed Xbox is working closely with Kojima Productions, providing support on Unreal Engine 5.
But here's the bad news: it's delayed. He's blaming the 2023 actor's strike for screwing up filming schedules, which in turn delayed game development. The official release date is "undetermined". Classic.
The "Next Xbox" Isn't a Box at All
This was the big one. When asked if there would be a successor to the Xbox Series X|S, Phil dodged like a pro.
He immediately deflected to the ROG Xbox Ally, a handheld made by ASUS. He said that wasn't his hardware, but then delivered the real kicker. He said the ROG Ally "suggests" how the Xbox "software platform will evolve" to "connect all devices at a single point".
He's not even hiding it anymore. The future of Xbox isn't a new piece of plastic under your TV; it's just the "Xbox software platform" running on your PC, your cloud, and your handhelds. The console is just a fading memory.
Yes, Everything Is Going Multi-Platform
Speaking of software, Famitsu asked about the strategy of putting first-party games like Indiana Jones/The Great Circle on the PlayStation 5.
Phil was thrilled to report that it's going "very well" and getting "good feedback". He also gleefully pointed out that Forza Horizon 5, the Oblivion Remastered, and DOOM: The Dark Ages are all "very successful" on PlayStation, too.
What about the new Nintendo Switch 2? Yep. He confirmed they're already supporting it, with Tony Hawk dropping on it back in July. He flat-out said that if people want to play on PS5 or Switch 2, Xbox is "making efforts to lower the barrier" for them to do so. The console war is over. Xbox is a publisher now.
But 'Halo' and 'Forza' Aren't Dead, He Swears
This was the damage control part of the interview. Famitsu asked if Halo and Forza Motorsport were basically finished.
"No!" Phil said, of course. He claims Halo Studios (formerly 343) is "making new plans" and focusing on Unreal Engine 5. He says they're being given the "necessary time" to make the next Halo a good one. We've all heard that one before.
On Forza Motorsport, he gave an absolutely classic corporate spin. He admitted they "had to... shift focus" and "reduce the scale of Turn10 Studios". But he actually tried to frame this as a good thing, saying that having 20+ studios gives them the "flexibility" to let some teams (the ones they downsized) rest. That's a cold, brilliant way to describe layoffs.
Why All the Japan Love? (Spoiler: The Numbers Are Up)
So why all the pandering to Japan, with new maps for Forza Horizon 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7? He said it's to show the market is "special," but the real reason came out a second later.
Xbox playtime in Japan is up 20% in the last year, across console, PC, and cloud. PC, in particular, is growing fast there. The numbers are good, so they're finally paying attention. It's just business.
He wrapped up by saying how much he respects Japanese culture and wants feedback. It was a masterclass in PR, but reading between the lines, the message is clear: the console is dead, the publisher is born, and Halo is on ice.