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New Head Of Xbox Says It’s “Gaming First” For Xbox One

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When the Xbox One was originally unveiled, it was obvious Microsoft was positioning their new console as an all-in-one device with video games taking a backseat to the platform’s myriad other uses. That’s since changed, though video games still haven’t seen the push they did on the Xbox 360, or the PlayStation 4.

Now that Phil Spencer has been appointed the new Head of Xbox at Microsoft, he says it’s his goal to lead the Xbox team with a focus on video games.

“Xbox is a gaming brand and [Microsoft] took the person who was at the head of the gaming franchises to lead the Xbox team,” Spencer told Polygon. This decision “really shows a commitment” to games on the now four month-old platform.

“With me you’re going to get a focus on gaming first and a best platform to play games on,” Spencer added. “It’s not a focus we ever lost but it’s one I’ll be accentuating at Microsoft. It’s really going to be a gaming-led focus with Xbox and my new role allows us to execute on that.”

A fresh perspective is desperately needed at Xbox. The Xbox One has been outsold by the PS4 by a factor of close to 2 to 1 worldwide and Sony has only amped up their own “gaming first” philosophy by signing on more indie developers — there are over 1,000 licensed indie devs developing for PS4 right now — and continues adding to the already extremely valuable PS Plus membership. Microsoft is losing touch with their core fans, gamers, and it’s having a detrimental effect on the console’s success.

I hope Phil Spencer can get them back on track, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Feel free to send Adam an email or follow him on Twitter:

Gamer, writer, terrible dancer, longtime toast enthusiast. Legend has it Adam was born with a controller in one hand and the Kraken's left eye in the other. Legends are often wrong.

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One of Clive Barker’s Final Convention Appearances Will Be at New Jersey’s Monster Mania in August

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Clive Barker

We told you earlier this month that horror legend Clive Barker is leaving the convention scene behind to focus entirely on his writing, with various upcoming projects in the works.

A series of final appearances from Barker will begin at Days of the Dead Chicago this month, and we’ve learned Barker will also be coming to Monster Mania in New Jersey.

Clive Barker will be signing at Monster Mania 59 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, which runs from August 2 – August 4, 2024. Stay tuned for more info from the convention.

Barker’s official statement earlier this month explained, “… it’s time to focus entirely on writing. I’m not stopping public events because I’ve lost delight in meeting you all over the years. I’m as passionate as ever about sharing my imagination with readers and moviegoers around the world. In the very room where I’m writing these words, I have the manuscripts for a very large number of projects (Thirty-one of them), some very close to completion, others still telling themselves. There are some wild projects in this collection of works, whether close to finished or done. There are also stories that you all knew I would be finishing.”

“Abarat IV and V are amongst the books at my feet,” he continued. “So is the Third and final book of The Art and the sequel to The Thief of Always. There are also return visits to characters and mythologies you may have thought I would never return to.

“I hope I am still able to surprise you in the decades ahead.”

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