Ori Dev CEO: Xbox Focused On Legacy, Not Future

Ori Dev CEO Says Xbox Was Too Focused On Protecting Its Legacy To Build Its Future

Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler, known for developing the beloved Ori series and No Rest for the Wicked, has shared his thoughts on the ongoing challenges at Xbox. The Ori games were previously published by Xbox Game Studios, but Moon Studios remained independent and began work on No Rest for the Wicked shortly after the second Ori game was released.

In his analysis, Mahler suggests that Xbox's current struggles have roots in its long-standing focus on legacy intellectual properties rather than nurturing new talent and innovative games. This strategy, he argues, has hindered the company's ability to evolve and connect with new audiences.

The Legacy vs. Future Dilemma

Mahler has pointed out that Xbox has struggled to identify and support the creative teams that could have kept the brand at the top. Even during the development of Ori and the Will of the Wisps, it was evident that the company's main focus remained on established franchises like Halo, Gears, and Forza—despite a decline in enthusiasm for these series after Bungie and Epic Games moved on.

"Even when we were making Ori with Xbox, it was clear that the main focus was still Halo, Gears, and Forza—even though gamer excitement around Halo and Gears had already cooled heavily after Bungie and Epic moved on from those franchises. The newer installments simply didn't reproduce the same cultural impact those series once had," Mahler explained.

A New Era for Xbox

Mahler believes that franchises like Ori could have been instrumental in ushering in a new era for Xbox, one that would attract younger gamers and cultivate lifelong fans of the brand. While Microsoft owns several iconic game franchises, Mahler emphasizes that great games are made by passionate individuals who understand their audience.

"If I were in charge, I'd 'slim down' Xbox and work to 'bring back the passion for gaming.' Xbox leans heavily on nostalgia, not the people who make games," Mahler wrote.

He argues that Xbox should be one of the strongest publishers in the world, given the brands it owns. However, he believes that nostalgia alone is not enough to sustain interest. To truly engage players, Xbox needs to focus on delivering high-quality, exciting games that make gamers "literally salivate."

To achieve this, Xbox must invest in the right people—creatives who understand the language of gamers and can inspire the next generation of players. Mahler highlights the importance of supporting and protecting these individuals, comparing them to legendary game designers like Shigeru Miyamoto, Hideo Kojima, and Masaya Matsuoka.

A Goldmine Awaits

Mahler concludes that Xbox is more than capable of producing better games than its competitors. The key, he says, is to put the right people in charge of steering the company's future. "It still looks like Xbox is sitting on an absolute goldmine," he wrote. "They just need to put the right people in charge of mining that gold."

As Xbox undergoes a "reset" under new leader Asha Sharma, Microsoft is reportedly planning to cut costs by laying off staff and closing studios like Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory. While some of these studios might go on to create successful independent projects, Mahler isn't surprised by the turbulence at Xbox—a company he believes has long struggled to balance its legacy with its future.