Phil Spencer, the veteran leader who's become the face of Xbox, recently sat down for a chat and got real about his gaming habits. It turns out, the boss of Microsoft Gaming has a serious soft spot for a certain fantasy epic. In a move that probably won't shock too many folks who've been paying attention, Spencer crowned Elden Ring as his absolute favorite game of the current console generation. He talked about how the game, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, just swallowed up his time—in the best way possible. It's that classic FromSoftware magic, you know? The kind that makes you forget to check the clock.
For Spencer, who's been steering the Xbox ship since 2014, this praise is about more than just a single title. He specifically highlighted his love for "new worlds" and fresh intellectual properties (IPs). It's a telling statement from the executive behind major moves like the growth of Xbox Game Pass and the massive acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. In a thoughtful gesture, he even mentioned choosing to "leave out" any first-party Xbox games from his top pick, perhaps to keep the focus purely on the game's merits. But the real charm came when he reminisced about his in-game adventures. With a laugh, he fondly recalled his Astrologer class character just "throwing rocks at people" and called the whole experience "so much fun." It's a refreshingly down-to-earth take from someone usually discussing billion-dollar business strategies.
A Long-Standing Admiration
This isn't some newfound love affair, either. Spencer's been a fan of Elden Ring for years. Way back in 2020, he got his hands on a pre-release version and boldly declared it Miyazaki's "most ambitious game" yet. Fast forward to 2026, and his admiration hasn't wavered. Eagle-eyed fans have even spotted Elden Ring memorabilia chilling on a shelf in the background of his video calls—a subtle but constant nod to a game that clearly left a mark. It begs the question: what is it about these challenging, mysterious worlds that captures the imagination of even the busiest executives?
Looking Forward: New Battles on the Horizon
While Spencer looks back fondly on Elden Ring, his gaze is also fixed firmly on the future. The gaming landscape in 2026 is as vibrant as ever, and Xbox has its own heavy hitters in the pipeline. Spencer and his team are gearing up for the launch of another major action title, but this time from within the Xbox family. The studio is none other than the legendary id Software, and the game is Doom: The Dark Ages, slated to unleash hell on PCs and consoles. It's another testament to Spencer's era at Xbox—a blend of respecting groundbreaking work from partners like FromSoftware and fostering massive projects from internal studios.
To wrap it up, Phil Spencer's choice is more than just a personal favorite; it's a signal. In an industry sometimes obsessed with sequels and safe bets, his praise for Elden Ring underscores the immense value and impact of bold, new creative visions. It's a world he happily got lost in, one rock throw at a time. And as for what world he'll champion next? Well, the journey's just getting started. The next generation awaits.