Phil Spencer: Xbox Game Pass Could Lead To Reboots Of Favorite Games

The cool thing about Xbox Game Pass is it literally has something for everyone. In a lot of ways, it’s the best way to get a little taste of everything in gaming. It’s also home to many older games that players might have missed if they’re new to the Xbox ecosystem. During a recent interview, Xbox Head Phil Spencer explained that Xbox Game Pass popularity could lead to game reboots of fan-favorite series. If that’s a sign that we’re getting a new Rare title of a classic character, then I’m all in. More likely than not, it’s just a judgement on how the company is using Game Pass to measure metrics for future projects. Still, I’m hoping for a new Viva Piñata.

Xbox Game Pass Might Lead to Reboots of Favorite Games According to Phil Spencer

Image Credit: Xbox Game Studios

In the last Kinda Funny Gamescast, Xbox Head Phil Spencer explained that Xbox Game Pass popularity could lead to game reboots. Two studios in particular got a mention from Spencer while he elaborated on this approach to project management:

“It was amazing when Bethesda came in and we were able to put so many of the ‘old new’ games into Game Pass and going back with the legacy that we have with some of the IP… even thinking about Rare Replay was a really interesting thing for us to go do and letting people go and experience some of the old Rare IP.”

The Microsoft acquisition of Bethesda and ZeniMax certainly stands out as room for reboot inspiration. Let’s take something like Fable. If the first three games were not popular on Game Pass, then it wouldn’t make sense to do a reboot. We can at least assume that interest is high enough to warrant the upcoming reboot from Playground Games. Spencer also mentioned by name Prey and Dishonored, two Bethesda titles with no current project underway. It’s an exciting time to be an Xbox owner and Game Pass is proving to be more and more mandatory for the Ultimate experience (pun absolutely intended).

Something like Gears of War is interesting too. With the fifth game in the franchise released in 2019, it’s not necessarily in need of a traditional “reboot.” That said, popularity on Game Pass could inspire more content within the world or maybe remastered versions of the old games like the first entry received. The sky seems to be the limit at Xbox and it means amazing things for fans like me.

If you could reboot one series under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella, then what would it be? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Image Credit: Rare & Xbox Game Studios

Taylor is the Gaming Editor of Comic Years and a lifelong fan of video games. He holds two degrees in Political Communication and wrote a Master's Thesis on resistance movements, race, and the exploitation of college athletes. His wife and two Toy Australian Sheppards keep him sane.