SPEAKER 1: Video games on this podcast vary from E to M.
TINA AMINI: Hiya, and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast. I am right here with a really particular visitor at the moment, I get the good pleasure of introducing you all to Craig Duncan, our new Head of Xbox Sport Studios. Welcome to Xbox Studio, to not be confused together with your Xbox Sport Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I am in command of this as properly? That is new, like that is — that is, I did not understand that.
TINA AMINI: We do not make video games here–
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good to see you, Tina.
TINA AMINI: Good to see you too. Yeah, so we do not make video games right here, we do make video games advertising right here, in addition to this pretty podcast. So sure, thanks a lot for becoming a member of the podcast. I do wish to begin with sort of giving the neighborhood slightly little bit of context about your very storied historical past and profession in video games. You’ve got been in video games for twenty years, so you have seen so much, you have seen the ups and down of the business, the literal ups and downs.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: You’ve got additionally been lauded the place you have been Studio Head at Uncommon for a few years. You’ve got been lauded to your work there. The studio tradition, clearly you shipped Uncommon Replay, you have been in command of Sea of Thieves for its thousands and thousands, aka seven years it has been ongoing now. And also you even have been working with Ninja Concept and Compulsion earlier than this new position. So you have been across the block, as they are saying.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it has been a enjoyable couple of a long time, and I like what I do, like that is why I do what I do. And really fortunate to see a bunch of the transition on the video games business, joined again in 2002, I labored for a European writer referred to as Codemasters that was sort of my learn to make video games, made a bunch of various sort of video games; motion video games, sports activities video games, then slightly little bit of (inaudible) halfway video games, slightly little bit of (inaudible) digital, after which joined Uncommon to steer them. And I’ve seen Xbox evolve and alter over, I assume 14 years I have been with Xbox now. And actually, the a part of the job I like greater than something is working with studios. I believe everybody’s position is vital, and I believe my job as a frontrunner is to assist create the precise setting for our groups to achieve success, create a tradition the place they’ll help one another, assist one another. Making video games is basically laborious, it isn’t any simpler now than it was 20 years in the past. Actually, it is tougher than ever, competitors is increased, participant expectations are increased. So, I believe my job is about creating the tradition and supporting our leaders, supporting our groups to do the easiest work they’ll, as a result of I believe if I do this, then hopefully that reveals within the video games we make and what goes to our gamers.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Actually a favourite a part of my job too, simply attending to know all of our expertise at our studios. Like unbelievable expertise, so an unbelievable job that you’ve got in entrance of you. However well-suited to the position, clearly, since you have had lots of that pedigree, which is —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: — thrilling and I am completely satisfied for the studios and the way we’re transferring ahead. So, I would love to speak about that as properly, like we have got a giant and thrilling 12 months forward of us. We kicked off the 12 months with Developer Direct. I wish to speak concerning the video games that have been in Developer Direct, as a result of we have got an opportunity to speak concerning the launch dates so we all know what’s coming, when it is coming. However we additionally simply launched Avowed, Obsidian’s newest sport. So I have been spending the weekend enjoying that myself. How about you?
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I imply, once more, the fortunate a part of this job, spend time with all of the groups, spent a bunch of time with the Obsidian staff. After which actually, like I really feel like I have been enjoying Avowed for like three or 4 months, as a result of we have — yeah, we clearly take a look at what we’re constructing. However simply seeing the response of gamers, seeing the evaluations, seeing simply individuals share the identical love for the (inaudible), they have a lot ardour, Carrie, Feargus, the entire staff, a lot ardour into the sport. And yeah, it is a fantastic sport, it is received fantastic story. If you have not checked it out, go test it out. However simply seeing all of the evaluations and it is an actual private second for a staff whenever you put a sport on the market.
TINA AMINI: Completely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply seeing the reactions and simply a few of the hype across the sport, and other people actually having fun with it, I believe’s been nice to see.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I am sadly solely 5 hours in, so instantly once we wrap up I am going residence and I am enjoying some extra.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Okay, yeah.
TINA AMINI: This has been formally sanctioned. However even 5 hours in there’s a lot depth and richness.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: And we have had the pleasure of getting Carrie Patel, Sport Director, out on the podcast earlier than. She’s been on Prolonged with me, so I’ve gotten to speak to her fairly a bit. I like Carrie, shout out to Carrie.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely. And simply Obsidians play the sport your approach, and identical to Avowed, certain it is a sport you may play via the story and thru the facet quests, however there’s really various the way in which you load out together with your character, which you could actually play the sport in very, very alternative ways and I like that. >> Yeah. It is each the sport play, however then it is also the exploration which is basically cool. I used to be simply at DICE and lots of my journalist associates have been telling me, oh, my God, the verticality! And it is like sure, we have been principally speaking concerning the verticality within the podcast with Carrie and there may be a lot to do and there may be that sense of, I see that factor within the distance and I wish to go have interaction with that factor. And there is one thing in that setting so that you can do. Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: And it is like my sort of sport, and been seeing lots of good evaluations on the market.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and identical to the story and the setting and like I am tremendous completely satisfied for Obsidian and —
TINA AMINI: World-class storytellers, I am loving Kai thus far. He is like scratching my like New Yorker sarcasm itch. So it is personality-wise, we’re a very good match.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good, I like that.
TINA AMINI: Effectively, we additionally had a bunch of different video games showcased in Developer Direct this 12 months. First off, I simply should say, I completely love engaged on that present. It is each as a result of we get to love actually embed with the studios, like at their studio, so the entire viewers will get to see what’s the studio setting and like what’s the tradition, how are individuals working collectively. And it is simply such a wonderful storytelling format, I believe, if I am —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I like the format and I believe simply, and I believe you mentioned it properly earlier, simply placing our expertise, like now we have so many — a lot expertise throughout our studios and simply the extra you set them — I all the time really feel slightly little bit of a shill after I come and do that factor. It is like, you do not actually wish to hear from me speaking about our video games, you wish to hear from our staff members, and Developer Direct is only a actually nice setting for them to speak concerning the video games and the fervour and yeah, like South of Midnight was on there, which clearly a staff I’ve labored tremendous intently with. And listening to them inform the story and the inspiration, it is an incredible format.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I like the Compulsion staff, that is really their third ever sport, which is fairly unbelievable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep.
TINA AMINI: They’ve a really distinctive type, if you happen to’ve, if the neighborhood our there has performed their earlier two video games as properly. Folks have been actually celebrating the storytelling, the performances, and there is a lot coronary heart in that sport and I like to see individuals having fun with that after I’ve seen the evaluations.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is a, and once more, very, very fortunate I have been enjoying it so much. The creatures, the storytelling, the southern gothic, like there is no sport I can consider that is been in a setting that they’ve realized and it is lovely, the artwork’s lovely. The, like I mentioned, storytelling, the creatures, the audio, the music —
TINA AMINI: The music too, sure. Particularly the music, you all the time, in each sport the music is certainly matching the tone, like the atmosphere. Are you in a boss combat, or are you simply in an environmental sort of extra peaceable setting. However the way in which that the music’s like actually chatting with the bosses.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is the storytelling.
TINA AMINI: It is their theme tune. Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is unbelievable.
TINA AMINI: I believed it was so intelligent. Yeah. So I used to be actually completely satisfied to have that in our present, that one’s popping out April 8, we introduced in Developer Direct. Enjoyable truth really, earlier than we speak concerning the different video games, is Artwork Director, Whitney Clayton, who opened the (inaudible) for South of Midnight, she really designed their complete studios too. The studio house itself. And it’s beautiful.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is a fantastic place, yeah.
TINA AMINI: — I needed to steal her over and assist design our of workplaces and he mentioned, completely not. In order that’s not taking place.
CRAIG DUNCAN: See, I went for a special factor, I am like hey, I can simply be primarily based in right here. As a result of —
TINA AMINI: Sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: — it simply feels so artistic and it is again to again, you wish to be surrounded by the issues that encourage you.
TINA AMINI: Sure and you are feeling the creativity whenever you’re there.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely.
TINA AMINI: I very a lot love their house and that is the great thing about Developer Direct, you get to see a few of that within the environmental storytelling that we do within the present. However we additionally had a really thrilling reveal with Ninja Gaiden 4. In order that’s been within the works for a while. What’s our backstory with that franchise?
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I like the story behind that. So, not solely Workforce Ninja, however together with Platinum Video games and I do know there was lots of, what are Platinum Video games engaged on, actually prestigious developer. Ninja Gaiden, I imply it is a franchise began on arcade after which residence computer systems. And I assume, I believe the unique Nintendo there was a Ninja Gaiden model, if my reminiscence serves me appropriately. However it’s additionally a franchise that is been synonymous with Xbox through the years in a number of generations. So, simply to carry a brilliant up-to-date, extremely polished, simply seeing simply the tempo of fight, the thrill, the boss — prefer it’s received a lot. And I believe followers are going to be blown away by the sport. They are going to get pleasure from it. I really love the shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 as properly.
TINA AMINI: Sure, slightly bonus shock, sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply the truth that we get to have these sort of surprises within the reveals and other people can go play it instantly on Sport Cross is basically nice, and stay up for Ninja Gaiden 4 later this 12 months.
TINA AMINI: Precisely, it is such a great way to simply sort of set it again up and scratch that nostalgia itch, after which remind the neighborhood about like the good prowess and —
CRAIG DUNCAN: It has been some time for the reason that final one —
TINA AMINI: Sure, precisely. Yeah.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, simply placing it again on individuals’s radars and what was nice concerning the franchise, however the publishing staff actually enthusiastic about it. Every little thing we’re seeing, like we expect the sport’s shaping up rather well. So.
TINA AMINI: Sure, now we have a lot love for Ninja Gaiden internally. The producer on my staff that took on that individual section and flew to Japan and labored with the studio, used to again within the day work for IGN, 10 years in the past was begging for the return of Ninja Gaiden, so very particular for lots of us internally at Xbox, to be sort of bringing this out into the world with these groups and get the neighborhood as excited as we’re —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is an incredible franchise.
TINA AMINI: — actually particular. Sure, completely. Effectively, we additionally had third-party associates present up —
CRAIG DUNCAN: You probably did?
TINA AMINI: — with a brand new studio, Sandfall Interactive, that is their first sport that they are ever transport collectively as a staff, and it is Expedition 33. It appears beautiful.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I am excited to play this one. Like, and once more, that is the bit the place it isn’t a part of my job, but it surely was the, it was the sport within the present that I am like hey, I actually prefer it. JRPG, plus distinctive setting, plus new IP. Yeah, I am actually excited to play. I believe I’ve seen as a lot as anybody else has seen, however —
TINA AMINI: The one one you may say that with.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Completely, however what I like about Developer Direct once more, is it showcasing a brand new studio, a brand new IP, and I like that we are able to do this on the most important stage and present that to the world. So.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, and that staff is basically fantastic. I received to spend time with them engaged on their section collectively. Their love for JRPGs is simply so obvious. They have been so embedded of their section it was like such a pleasure to work with them and assist them inform their story.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Unimaginable.
TINA AMINI: Sure, completely, they actually have their very own like distinctive positioning on it, and like actually making it their very own. It is very enjoyable to study from the behind the scenes, like simply how a lot they’re placing into this sport, and we introduced it is popping out April 24, so —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure, very quickly.
TINA AMINI: — one other, yeah, one other one to make for a busy 12 months. And there was one different sport in Developer Direct, after all, our huge nearer, our summer season blockbuster if you’ll, for DOOM: The Darkish Ages, introduced for Could 15. So very thrilling to have that one shut out the present.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and once more, tremendous excited for the sport, the staff, and simply it is an incredible franchise, very storied franchise, DOOM. And once more, I do not wish to converse for them, however like I believe it’ll be an incredible model of DOOM, very completely different, however yeah. Simply —
TINA AMINI: It feels that option to me too.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Tremendous cool.
TINA AMINI: Talking of it being a storied franchise, they did such a very good job, each Hugo and Marty simply sort of drawing again on just like the earlier DOOMs, the position that you simply performed, after which what that’s in comparison with Darkish Ages.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: And that sort of like huge mecca, like gob smacking chaos that you will be discovering your self in. So, positively that huge summer season blockbuster vibe for Could 15 launch date. We did additionally prevails announce that DOOM was going to be coming to different platforms. And since then we have had a bunch of different information about different video games of ours coming to different platforms. Talking of Bethesda, additionally Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep, after all.
TINA AMINI: And transient sidebar for Indiana Jones, that gained, took residence three awards from DICE really.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, large, congratulations.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I had the pleasure of congratulating Todd in particular person, just like the staff was actually excited. It was so nice to see MachineGames on stage, taking residence three awards. So that they gained Journey Sport of the 12 months, Excellent Achievement in Character, which after all went to Journey Baker for Indie himself, and Achievement in Story. All tremendous well-deserved.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Effectively-deserved.
TINA AMINI: I beloved enjoying that sport. I believe I devoured it in two days, doing nothing else with my life, however I believe it was well-spent hours I’d say.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too, and once more sort of received to play it pre-launch, however what they constructed was unbelievable and well-deserving of all of the awards.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Very completely satisfied for that staff.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too.
TINA AMINI: However on that word, a few of the video games which are going to be coming to different platforms, they’re a few of our like long-standing sort of flagship sequence if you’ll. So I am simply curious what you suppose the Xbox neighborhood ought to take away from the truth that we have made that call to carry extra video games to extra platforms.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I believe it is good for players, I believe it is good for our studios. Our studios make wonderful video games, and we wish to give these video games the possibility to achieve the broadest viewers attainable. So, even when I believe again to after I had my Studio Head of Sea of Thieves hat on, having to see if these attain their a number of platforms, having the ability to take away limitations so these gamers might play collectively. After which we introduced Forza Horizon 5, which one of many greatest video games on Xbox. I am very biased, after all, as a result of I do know the staff tremendous properly, however arguably I believe in all probability the most effective racing video games ever, ever, ever, ever made.
TINA AMINI: I believe lots of people agree with you.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I simply suppose it is good for players, it is good to have our video games attain extra locations.
TINA AMINI: It is a few of that high quality of life factor for players, but additionally completely satisfied for our builders that get an opportunity to share their artwork with extra individuals.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Everybody that makes a sport desires it to achieve as many gamers as attainable. So.
TINA AMINI: Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I like that we may give that chance.
TINA AMINI: Completely. Effectively, there’s one different extremely anticipated sport —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure!
TINA AMINI: — that folks can be very enthusiastic about, that we have not talked about but, and that is Fable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure.
TINA AMINI: So the place are we at with Fable?
CRAIG DUNCAN: So, I simply wish to begin with actually excited, actually enthusiastic about progress, actually excited the place Playground are. We beforehand introduced the date for Fable as 2025, we are literally going to provide Fable extra time and it’ll ship in 2026 now. Whereas I do know that is not perhaps the information individuals wish to hear, what I wish to guarantee individuals of is that it is positively well worth the wait. And I simply, I’ve unequivocal confidence within the Playground staff. If you consider their historical past and legacy for Forza Horizon, the final two video games critically acclaimed (inaudible) —
TINA AMINI: Award-winning.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Award-winning, lovely, performed nice. And simply what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, simply consider the visuals of what you anticipate of Playground Video games, plus wonderful sport play, British humor, Playground’s model of Albion, so impressed by what’s gone earlier than with the franchise, however their take. And fairly frankly, essentially the most fantastically realized model of Albion you have ever seen. So actually excited concerning the plans and actually excited concerning the future and I would like the neighborhood to know that we do this stuff for one of the best of the video games, and the groups, and in the end that leads to one of the best video games, or one of the best sport for the neighborhood.
TINA AMINI: And I believe out of your go to you really managed to carry over some footage for us to see a few of these lovely visuals as properly.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. So, I believe we’ll present a few of the, a few of the footage, this is not a trailer or something. We thought as we have been going to speak concerning the sport, it was vital to point out a few of the issues.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, we get to see a few of these scenes, like sort of each simply strolling via environments the place, and there might be some fight, some metropolis strolling scenes, simply actually seeing how the attractive selection in environments which are within the sport.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I’ve performed some elements of it which are within the metropolis primarily based, and once more, I am attempting to be very cautious that I do not spoil something. Ralph and the staff will not forgive me if I spoil one thing. However I performed a few of the metropolis parts, I performed a few of the quests, I performed a few of the fight, I performed a boss battle, I’ve used magic. Prefer it felt wonderful, and I had a good time, and once more, I bear in mind the originals and the scene, I’ve performed that in sport play. I am not going to spoil the backstory of what is going on on, however as you may see, genuinely lovely. Performs nice.
TINA AMINI: Simply seeing just like the cinematics after which chopping to the precise like combat over right here, it is beautiful. It might barely inform the distinction, which is such a seamless transition.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. It is very actual, every part you are seeing right here may be very playable. I’ve seen a bunch greater than that, I am very excited. So take my phrase for it. However hopefully what the staff can see right here is sufficient to construct pleasure.
TINA AMINI: I like the little particulars, it is nice to see how a lot emphasis is being put into all of that.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and there is no greater followers of Fable as a franchise because the Playground staff which are making it. So I believe it is a actually enjoyable stability between what are the sport tenets which are true to Fable, and what’s some modern-day reimagining of what’s Playground Video games’ model of Fable.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. The fashionable retelling of Fable. Very excited myself, I have been an enormous Fable participant since day one. So, I am excited for 2026.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: Alright, properly that is all of the information that now we have for this specific episode and for what’s arising for the remainder of the 12 months. However earlier than we ship you again off to go hang around with different studios and see all of their video games and inform me about all of the issues that you simply’re seeing there, I’d simply like to know like what are you enjoying, what are you trying ahead to the remainder of the 12 months, perhaps one thing non-Xbox Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is sort of difficult, as a result of this job is full on, like as you’d think about. And so I spend lots of time, so clearly I am over in Redmond this week. I’ve received a Steam Deck that is filled with XGS video games, so I spend lots of our time enjoying our personal video games. We have got a bunch of stuff we have not introduced, so clearly I spend a bunch of time with that. I believe as we have talked about earlier, I believe Expedition 33 I believe is one thing I am trying ahead to enjoying. Was cool to see the Change 2 announcement, so like all the time curious and enthusiastic about what Nintendo do, so I believe that might be cool. However yeah, identical to now we have tons happening.
TINA AMINI: We do.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I try to spend as a lot time as I can enjoying our personal video games. Yeah, so.
TINA AMINI: We’ll name it analysis.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: It is enjoyable analysis.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s enjoyable analysis.
TINA AMINI: That is me enjoying Avowed later.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is one of the best a part of the job.
TINA AMINI: Proceed my journey, sure, precisely. Effectively, thanks a lot for coming by, I hope now we have you once more right here at Xbox Studio, to not be confused with Xbox Sport Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: That’s complicated.
TINA AMINI: — many places, we’re however one location, right here in Redmond as properly. And yeah, we’re trying ahead to seeing extra the remainder of the 12 months, and I hope everybody else at residence watching is equally excited. And we’ll see you on the subsequent present.
SPEAKER 1: Video games on this podcast vary from E to M.
TINA AMINI: Hiya, and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast. I am right here with a really particular visitor at the moment, I get the good pleasure of introducing you all to Craig Duncan, our new Head of Xbox Sport Studios. Welcome to Xbox Studio, to not be confused together with your Xbox Sport Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I am in command of this as properly? That is new, like that is — that is, I did not understand that.
TINA AMINI: We do not make video games here–
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good to see you, Tina.
TINA AMINI: Good to see you too. Yeah, so we do not make video games right here, we do make video games advertising right here, in addition to this pretty podcast. So sure, thanks a lot for becoming a member of the podcast. I do wish to begin with sort of giving the neighborhood slightly little bit of context about your very storied historical past and profession in video games. You’ve got been in video games for twenty years, so you have seen so much, you have seen the ups and down of the business, the literal ups and downs.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: You’ve got additionally been lauded the place you have been Studio Head at Uncommon for a few years. You’ve got been lauded to your work there. The studio tradition, clearly you shipped Uncommon Replay, you have been in command of Sea of Thieves for its thousands and thousands, aka seven years it has been ongoing now. And also you even have been working with Ninja Concept and Compulsion earlier than this new position. So you have been across the block, as they are saying.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it has been a enjoyable couple of a long time, and I like what I do, like that is why I do what I do. And really fortunate to see a bunch of the transition on the video games business, joined again in 2002, I labored for a European writer referred to as Codemasters that was sort of my learn to make video games, made a bunch of various sort of video games; motion video games, sports activities video games, then slightly little bit of (inaudible) halfway video games, slightly little bit of (inaudible) digital, after which joined Uncommon to steer them. And I’ve seen Xbox evolve and alter over, I assume 14 years I have been with Xbox now. And actually, the a part of the job I like greater than something is working with studios. I believe everybody’s position is vital, and I believe my job as a frontrunner is to assist create the precise setting for our groups to achieve success, create a tradition the place they’ll help one another, assist one another. Making video games is basically laborious, it isn’t any simpler now than it was 20 years in the past. Actually, it is tougher than ever, competitors is increased, participant expectations are increased. So, I believe my job is about creating the tradition and supporting our leaders, supporting our groups to do the easiest work they’ll, as a result of I believe if I do this, then hopefully that reveals within the video games we make and what goes to our gamers.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Actually a favourite a part of my job too, simply attending to know all of our expertise at our studios. Like unbelievable expertise, so an unbelievable job that you’ve got in entrance of you. However well-suited to the position, clearly, since you have had lots of that pedigree, which is —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: — thrilling and I am completely satisfied for the studios and the way we’re transferring ahead. So, I would love to speak about that as properly, like we have got a giant and thrilling 12 months forward of us. We kicked off the 12 months with Developer Direct. I wish to speak concerning the video games that have been in Developer Direct, as a result of we have got an opportunity to speak concerning the launch dates so we all know what’s coming, when it is coming. However we additionally simply launched Avowed, Obsidian’s newest sport. So I have been spending the weekend enjoying that myself. How about you?
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I imply, once more, the fortunate a part of this job, spend time with all of the groups, spent a bunch of time with the Obsidian staff. After which actually, like I really feel like I have been enjoying Avowed for like three or 4 months, as a result of we have — yeah, we clearly take a look at what we’re constructing. However simply seeing the response of gamers, seeing the evaluations, seeing simply individuals share the identical love for the (inaudible), they have a lot ardour, Carrie, Feargus, the entire staff, a lot ardour into the sport. And yeah, it is a fantastic sport, it is received fantastic story. If you have not checked it out, go test it out. However simply seeing all of the evaluations and it is an actual private second for a staff whenever you put a sport on the market.
TINA AMINI: Completely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply seeing the reactions and simply a few of the hype across the sport, and other people actually having fun with it, I believe’s been nice to see.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I am sadly solely 5 hours in, so instantly once we wrap up I am going residence and I am enjoying some extra.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Okay, yeah.
TINA AMINI: This has been formally sanctioned. However even 5 hours in there’s a lot depth and richness.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: And we have had the pleasure of getting Carrie Patel, Sport Director, out on the podcast earlier than. She’s been on Prolonged with me, so I’ve gotten to speak to her fairly a bit. I like Carrie, shout out to Carrie.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely. And simply Obsidians play the sport your approach, and identical to Avowed, certain it is a sport you may play via the story and thru the facet quests, however there’s really various the way in which you load out together with your character, which you could actually play the sport in very, very alternative ways and I like that. >> Yeah. It is each the sport play, however then it is also the exploration which is basically cool. I used to be simply at DICE and lots of my journalist associates have been telling me, oh, my God, the verticality! And it is like sure, we have been principally speaking concerning the verticality within the podcast with Carrie and there may be a lot to do and there may be that sense of, I see that factor within the distance and I wish to go have interaction with that factor. And there is one thing in that setting so that you can do. Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: And it is like my sort of sport, and been seeing lots of good evaluations on the market.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and identical to the story and the setting and like I am tremendous completely satisfied for Obsidian and —
TINA AMINI: World-class storytellers, I am loving Kai thus far. He is like scratching my like New Yorker sarcasm itch. So it is personality-wise, we’re a very good match.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good, I like that.
TINA AMINI: Effectively, we additionally had a bunch of different video games showcased in Developer Direct this 12 months. First off, I simply should say, I completely love engaged on that present. It is each as a result of we get to love actually embed with the studios, like at their studio, so the entire viewers will get to see what’s the studio setting and like what’s the tradition, how are individuals working collectively. And it is simply such a wonderful storytelling format, I believe, if I am —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I like the format and I believe simply, and I believe you mentioned it properly earlier, simply placing our expertise, like now we have so many — a lot expertise throughout our studios and simply the extra you set them — I all the time really feel slightly little bit of a shill after I come and do that factor. It is like, you do not actually wish to hear from me speaking about our video games, you wish to hear from our staff members, and Developer Direct is only a actually nice setting for them to speak concerning the video games and the fervour and yeah, like South of Midnight was on there, which clearly a staff I’ve labored tremendous intently with. And listening to them inform the story and the inspiration, it is an incredible format.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I like the Compulsion staff, that is really their third ever sport, which is fairly unbelievable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep.
TINA AMINI: They’ve a really distinctive type, if you happen to’ve, if the neighborhood our there has performed their earlier two video games as properly. Folks have been actually celebrating the storytelling, the performances, and there is a lot coronary heart in that sport and I like to see individuals having fun with that after I’ve seen the evaluations.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is a, and once more, very, very fortunate I have been enjoying it so much. The creatures, the storytelling, the southern gothic, like there is no sport I can consider that is been in a setting that they’ve realized and it is lovely, the artwork’s lovely. The, like I mentioned, storytelling, the creatures, the audio, the music —
TINA AMINI: The music too, sure. Particularly the music, you all the time, in each sport the music is certainly matching the tone, like the atmosphere. Are you in a boss combat, or are you simply in an environmental sort of extra peaceable setting. However the way in which that the music’s like actually chatting with the bosses.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is the storytelling.
TINA AMINI: It is their theme tune. Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is unbelievable.
TINA AMINI: I believed it was so intelligent. Yeah. So I used to be actually completely satisfied to have that in our present, that one’s popping out April 8, we introduced in Developer Direct. Enjoyable truth really, earlier than we speak concerning the different video games, is Artwork Director, Whitney Clayton, who opened the (inaudible) for South of Midnight, she really designed their complete studios too. The studio house itself. And it’s beautiful.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is a fantastic place, yeah.
TINA AMINI: — I needed to steal her over and assist design our of workplaces and he mentioned, completely not. In order that’s not taking place.
CRAIG DUNCAN: See, I went for a special factor, I am like hey, I can simply be primarily based in right here. As a result of —
TINA AMINI: Sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: — it simply feels so artistic and it is again to again, you wish to be surrounded by the issues that encourage you.
TINA AMINI: Sure and you are feeling the creativity whenever you’re there.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely.
TINA AMINI: I very a lot love their house and that is the great thing about Developer Direct, you get to see a few of that within the environmental storytelling that we do within the present. However we additionally had a really thrilling reveal with Ninja Gaiden 4. In order that’s been within the works for a while. What’s our backstory with that franchise?
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I like the story behind that. So, not solely Workforce Ninja, however together with Platinum Video games and I do know there was lots of, what are Platinum Video games engaged on, actually prestigious developer. Ninja Gaiden, I imply it is a franchise began on arcade after which residence computer systems. And I assume, I believe the unique Nintendo there was a Ninja Gaiden model, if my reminiscence serves me appropriately. However it’s additionally a franchise that is been synonymous with Xbox through the years in a number of generations. So, simply to carry a brilliant up-to-date, extremely polished, simply seeing simply the tempo of fight, the thrill, the boss — prefer it’s received a lot. And I believe followers are going to be blown away by the sport. They are going to get pleasure from it. I really love the shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 as properly.
TINA AMINI: Sure, slightly bonus shock, sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply the truth that we get to have these sort of surprises within the reveals and other people can go play it instantly on Sport Cross is basically nice, and stay up for Ninja Gaiden 4 later this 12 months.
TINA AMINI: Precisely, it is such a great way to simply sort of set it again up and scratch that nostalgia itch, after which remind the neighborhood about like the good prowess and —
CRAIG DUNCAN: It has been some time for the reason that final one —
TINA AMINI: Sure, precisely. Yeah.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, simply placing it again on individuals’s radars and what was nice concerning the franchise, however the publishing staff actually enthusiastic about it. Every little thing we’re seeing, like we expect the sport’s shaping up rather well. So.
TINA AMINI: Sure, now we have a lot love for Ninja Gaiden internally. The producer on my staff that took on that individual section and flew to Japan and labored with the studio, used to again within the day work for IGN, 10 years in the past was begging for the return of Ninja Gaiden, so very particular for lots of us internally at Xbox, to be sort of bringing this out into the world with these groups and get the neighborhood as excited as we’re —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is an incredible franchise.
TINA AMINI: — actually particular. Sure, completely. Effectively, we additionally had third-party associates present up —
CRAIG DUNCAN: You probably did?
TINA AMINI: — with a brand new studio, Sandfall Interactive, that is their first sport that they are ever transport collectively as a staff, and it is Expedition 33. It appears beautiful.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I am excited to play this one. Like, and once more, that is the bit the place it isn’t a part of my job, but it surely was the, it was the sport within the present that I am like hey, I actually prefer it. JRPG, plus distinctive setting, plus new IP. Yeah, I am actually excited to play. I believe I’ve seen as a lot as anybody else has seen, however —
TINA AMINI: The one one you may say that with.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Completely, however what I like about Developer Direct once more, is it showcasing a brand new studio, a brand new IP, and I like that we are able to do this on the most important stage and present that to the world. So.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, and that staff is basically fantastic. I received to spend time with them engaged on their section collectively. Their love for JRPGs is simply so obvious. They have been so embedded of their section it was like such a pleasure to work with them and assist them inform their story.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Unimaginable.
TINA AMINI: Sure, completely, they actually have their very own like distinctive positioning on it, and like actually making it their very own. It is very enjoyable to study from the behind the scenes, like simply how a lot they’re placing into this sport, and we introduced it is popping out April 24, so —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure, very quickly.
TINA AMINI: — one other, yeah, one other one to make for a busy 12 months. And there was one different sport in Developer Direct, after all, our huge nearer, our summer season blockbuster if you’ll, for DOOM: The Darkish Ages, introduced for Could 15. So very thrilling to have that one shut out the present.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and once more, tremendous excited for the sport, the staff, and simply it is an incredible franchise, very storied franchise, DOOM. And once more, I do not wish to converse for them, however like I believe it’ll be an incredible model of DOOM, very completely different, however yeah. Simply —
TINA AMINI: It feels that option to me too.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Tremendous cool.
TINA AMINI: Talking of it being a storied franchise, they did such a very good job, each Hugo and Marty simply sort of drawing again on just like the earlier DOOMs, the position that you simply performed, after which what that’s in comparison with Darkish Ages.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: And that sort of like huge mecca, like gob smacking chaos that you will be discovering your self in. So, positively that huge summer season blockbuster vibe for Could 15 launch date. We did additionally prevails announce that DOOM was going to be coming to different platforms. And since then we have had a bunch of different information about different video games of ours coming to different platforms. Talking of Bethesda, additionally Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep, after all.
TINA AMINI: And transient sidebar for Indiana Jones, that gained, took residence three awards from DICE really.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, large, congratulations.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I had the pleasure of congratulating Todd in particular person, just like the staff was actually excited. It was so nice to see MachineGames on stage, taking residence three awards. So that they gained Journey Sport of the 12 months, Excellent Achievement in Character, which after all went to Journey Baker for Indie himself, and Achievement in Story. All tremendous well-deserved.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Effectively-deserved.
TINA AMINI: I beloved enjoying that sport. I believe I devoured it in two days, doing nothing else with my life, however I believe it was well-spent hours I’d say.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too, and once more sort of received to play it pre-launch, however what they constructed was unbelievable and well-deserving of all of the awards.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Very completely satisfied for that staff.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too.
TINA AMINI: However on that word, a few of the video games which are going to be coming to different platforms, they’re a few of our like long-standing sort of flagship sequence if you’ll. So I am simply curious what you suppose the Xbox neighborhood ought to take away from the truth that we have made that call to carry extra video games to extra platforms.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I believe it is good for players, I believe it is good for our studios. Our studios make wonderful video games, and we wish to give these video games the possibility to achieve the broadest viewers attainable. So, even when I believe again to after I had my Studio Head of Sea of Thieves hat on, having to see if these attain their a number of platforms, having the ability to take away limitations so these gamers might play collectively. After which we introduced Forza Horizon 5, which one of many greatest video games on Xbox. I am very biased, after all, as a result of I do know the staff tremendous properly, however arguably I believe in all probability the most effective racing video games ever, ever, ever, ever made.
TINA AMINI: I believe lots of people agree with you.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I simply suppose it is good for players, it is good to have our video games attain extra locations.
TINA AMINI: It is a few of that high quality of life factor for players, but additionally completely satisfied for our builders that get an opportunity to share their artwork with extra individuals.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Everybody that makes a sport desires it to achieve as many gamers as attainable. So.
TINA AMINI: Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I like that we may give that chance.
TINA AMINI: Completely. Effectively, there’s one different extremely anticipated sport —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure!
TINA AMINI: — that folks can be very enthusiastic about, that we have not talked about but, and that is Fable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure.
TINA AMINI: So the place are we at with Fable?
CRAIG DUNCAN: So, I simply wish to begin with actually excited, actually enthusiastic about progress, actually excited the place Playground are. We beforehand introduced the date for Fable as 2025, we are literally going to provide Fable extra time and it’ll ship in 2026 now. Whereas I do know that is not perhaps the information individuals wish to hear, what I wish to guarantee individuals of is that it is positively well worth the wait. And I simply, I’ve unequivocal confidence within the Playground staff. If you consider their historical past and legacy for Forza Horizon, the final two video games critically acclaimed (inaudible) —
TINA AMINI: Award-winning.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Award-winning, lovely, performed nice. And simply what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, simply consider the visuals of what you anticipate of Playground Video games, plus wonderful sport play, British humor, Playground’s model of Albion, so impressed by what’s gone earlier than with the franchise, however their take. And fairly frankly, essentially the most fantastically realized model of Albion you have ever seen. So actually excited concerning the plans and actually excited concerning the future and I would like the neighborhood to know that we do this stuff for one of the best of the video games, and the groups, and in the end that leads to one of the best video games, or one of the best sport for the neighborhood.
TINA AMINI: And I believe out of your go to you really managed to carry over some footage for us to see a few of these lovely visuals as properly.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. So, I believe we’ll present a few of the, a few of the footage, this is not a trailer or something. We thought as we have been going to speak concerning the sport, it was vital to point out a few of the issues.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, we get to see a few of these scenes, like sort of each simply strolling via environments the place, and there might be some fight, some metropolis strolling scenes, simply actually seeing how the attractive selection in environments which are within the sport.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I’ve performed some elements of it which are within the metropolis primarily based, and once more, I am attempting to be very cautious that I do not spoil something. Ralph and the staff will not forgive me if I spoil one thing. However I performed a few of the metropolis parts, I performed a few of the quests, I performed a few of the fight, I performed a boss battle, I’ve used magic. Prefer it felt wonderful, and I had a good time, and once more, I bear in mind the originals and the scene, I’ve performed that in sport play. I am not going to spoil the backstory of what is going on on, however as you may see, genuinely lovely. Performs nice.
TINA AMINI: Simply seeing just like the cinematics after which chopping to the precise like combat over right here, it is beautiful. It might barely inform the distinction, which is such a seamless transition.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. It is very actual, every part you are seeing right here may be very playable. I’ve seen a bunch greater than that, I am very excited. So take my phrase for it. However hopefully what the staff can see right here is sufficient to construct pleasure.
TINA AMINI: I like the little particulars, it is nice to see how a lot emphasis is being put into all of that.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and there is no greater followers of Fable as a franchise because the Playground staff which are making it. So I believe it is a actually enjoyable stability between what are the sport tenets which are true to Fable, and what’s some modern-day reimagining of what’s Playground Video games’ model of Fable.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. The fashionable retelling of Fable. Very excited myself, I have been an enormous Fable participant since day one. So, I am excited for 2026.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: Alright, properly that is all of the information that now we have for this specific episode and for what’s arising for the remainder of the 12 months. However earlier than we ship you again off to go hang around with different studios and see all of their video games and inform me about all of the issues that you simply’re seeing there, I’d simply like to know like what are you enjoying, what are you trying ahead to the remainder of the 12 months, perhaps one thing non-Xbox Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is sort of difficult, as a result of this job is full on, like as you’d think about. And so I spend lots of time, so clearly I am over in Redmond this week. I’ve received a Steam Deck that is filled with XGS video games, so I spend lots of our time enjoying our personal video games. We have got a bunch of stuff we have not introduced, so clearly I spend a bunch of time with that. I believe as we have talked about earlier, I believe Expedition 33 I believe is one thing I am trying ahead to enjoying. Was cool to see the Change 2 announcement, so like all the time curious and enthusiastic about what Nintendo do, so I believe that might be cool. However yeah, identical to now we have tons happening.
TINA AMINI: We do.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I try to spend as a lot time as I can enjoying our personal video games. Yeah, so.
TINA AMINI: We’ll name it analysis.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: It is enjoyable analysis.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s enjoyable analysis.
TINA AMINI: That is me enjoying Avowed later.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is one of the best a part of the job.
TINA AMINI: Proceed my journey, sure, precisely. Effectively, thanks a lot for coming by, I hope now we have you once more right here at Xbox Studio, to not be confused with Xbox Sport Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: That’s complicated.
TINA AMINI: — many places, we’re however one location, right here in Redmond as properly. And yeah, we’re trying ahead to seeing extra the remainder of the 12 months, and I hope everybody else at residence watching is equally excited. And we’ll see you on the subsequent present.
