Xbox Can Afford to Delay Unreleased Games Like Everwild and State of Decay 3

With its acquisition of giants like Activision Blizzard and Bethesda, alongside its robust collection of Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft is now a publishing powerhouse in the gaming industry, bustling with numerous upcoming projects. Some of these titles, such as Rare’s “Everwild” and Undead Labs’ “State of Decay 3,” have been in the works for years with little progress visible to the public eye.

During a chat with Xbox Era, Phil Spencer, who leads Microsoft Gaming, seemed unbothered by any worries about these projects being stuck in development limbo. Spencer pointed out that Microsoft’s extensive resources allow them to provide their studios with the necessary time to perfect their games.

When asked about which unreleased titles from Microsoft’s in-house studios he was eagerly anticipating, Spencer mentioned “State of Decay 3,” “Everwild,” and an upcoming game from Double Fine Productions led by Tim Schafer.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for the ‘State of Decay’ series, starting from the original,” Spencer shared. “I’m also really interested in what Double Fine is doing under Tim’s guidance. Plus, I recently checked in with the Rare team and it’s exciting to see how Everwild is shaping up.”

While acknowledging the lengthy silence around these titles, Spencer remarked, “It has indeed been some time. We’ve afforded these teams the time they need to develop their projects to the best of their abilities, all while maintaining a strong portfolio. This is something that Matt Booty and I have dreamed of for a long time, so it’s rewarding to finally see it happening. We’re in a position to allow these teams room to breathe.”

Microsoft isn’t feeling any urgency to expedite the release of new games. Looking ahead to 2025, their lineup is already brimming with titles like Obsidian’s “Avowed” and “The Outer Worlds 2,” id Software’s “Doom: The Dark Ages,” Compulsion Games’ “South of Midnight,” Playground Games’ “Fable,” and the collaboration between Team Ninja and PlatinumGames on “Ninja Gaiden 4.” Of course, there’s also the expectation of a new “Call of Duty” release.

Spencer additionally mentioned plans to visit The Coalition, the studio behind “Gears of War,” to check out “Gears of War: E-Day,” another game taking its time in development. The last Gears installment came out in 2019. “I’ll be heading there next week,” he said playfully. “I feel right at home when I get a chance to peek behind those doors.”