I would think that Booty/Layden would split all the Game Studios excluding Bethesda and if they were to acquire another publisher like Paradox Interactive or Sega.
So the three publishers run as normal with Phil overseeing them while Booty/Layden would split the studios.
I could be wrong, I don’t know the man, but I bet Shawn Layden wouldn’t wanna compete with Matt Booty for Phil’s job someday. I got the feeling he didn’t wanna be the top guy anymore after Sony. So him coming in to help Matt Booty now could be great. Then Matt slides into Phil’s role when Phil leaves.
But it’s clear Matt only needs to go up, because if there’s one thing you don’t want, it’s for The Booty to Drop.
I think it’d be cool to promote Booty into a role that overseas all first party (basically what he did pre-Bethesda) with people in charge of XGS, Bethesda, and reporting to him.
Matt Booty and Phil are right at the same age. Unless Phil retires prematurely Matt Booty isn’t ever taking over that role.
Or Phil’s promoted.
He’s supposedly a favorite among the board.
The only real way for phil to be promoted at this point is CEO pretty much, and i imagine hes pretty happy being where hes at right now, considering he genuinely loves gaming
Promoted to where though? He is already in the executive ring, the only step up at MS is CEO and he has publicly said he isn’t interested in being a CEO. Obviously anything can happen. Not to mention he has been at MS for 30 years, a abrupt departure for another company seems unlikely.
You never know.
I don’t imagine Nadella leaving anytime soon either. Microsoft is a big company though, especially with the gaming sector seeing extreme growth.
Maybe it won’t be a direct promotion straight to Phil, but I expect the chain of command to get much deeper for gaming at Microsoft with further expansion.
You know, it was interesting to see the Fig connection between some studio acquisitions… you know which studio is among them that is still independent?
Harmonix.
I could honestly see them being a decent fit at XGS.
Someone is gonna have to run TikTok, right?
leave
You’re forgiven
I would imagine now that there are people in the pipeline who are fully capable of handling greater responsibilities with the Xbox brand without having to bring in some outsider to do the job.
I would think that instead of sharing duties. Microsoft will form a overarching publisher to oversee the additional studios.
It’s possible they could have a board for an overarching publisher.
A lot of ways they could go about it, honestly.
There are great vets within Xbox who deserve a step up. And there are vets like Brian Fargo who should be asked to lead a complete studio group in a few years time. You may not need Shawn Layden. Besides, organic upward growth is still a thing in MS.
I expect a super structure called XGS. This will have Matt heading it. The current XGS should be renamed to something appropriate (Forerunner publishing or something like that?)
My thesis:
“New XGS” (Matt Booty)
I am expecting the total number to be between 30 and 40.
Or Shannon Studstill.
