SPEAKER 1: Video games on this podcast vary from E to M.
TINA AMINI: Whats up, and welcome to the official Xbox Podcast. I am right here with a really particular visitor as we speak, I get the nice pleasure of introducing you all to Craig Duncan, our new Head of Xbox Sport Studios. Welcome to Xbox Studio, to not be confused together with your Xbox Sport Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I am accountable for this as effectively? That is new, like that is — that is, I did not understand that.
TINA AMINI: We do not make video games here–
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good to see you, Tina.
TINA AMINI: Good to see you too. Yeah, so we do not make video games right here, we do make video games advertising right here, in addition to this pretty podcast. So sure, thanks a lot for becoming a member of the podcast. I do wish to begin with sort of giving the group slightly little bit of context about your very storied historical past and profession in video games. You have been in video games for twenty years, so you have seen lots, you have seen the ups and down of the trade, the literal ups and downs.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: You have additionally been lauded the place you had been Studio Head at Uncommon for a few years. You have been lauded to your work there. The studio tradition, clearly you shipped Uncommon Replay, you have been accountable for Sea of Thieves for its thousands and thousands, aka seven years it has been ongoing now. And also you even have been working with Ninja Concept and Compulsion earlier than this new position. So you have been across the block, as they are saying.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it has been a enjoyable couple of many years, and I really like what I do, like that is why I do what I do. And really fortunate to see a bunch of the transition on the video games trade, joined again in 2002, I labored for a European writer known as Codemasters that was sort of my learn to make video games, made a bunch of various sort of video games; motion video games, sports activities video games, then slightly little bit of (inaudible) halfway video games, slightly little bit of (inaudible) digital, after which joined Uncommon to steer them. And I’ve seen Xbox evolve and alter over, I suppose 14 years I have been with Xbox now. And actually, the a part of the job I really like greater than something is working with studios. I believe everybody’s position is vital, and I believe my job as a pacesetter is to assist create the proper setting for our groups to achieve success, create a tradition the place they’ll assist one another, assist one another. Making video games is absolutely laborious, it is not any simpler now than it was 20 years in the past. In actual fact, it is more durable than ever, competitors is larger, participant expectations are larger. So, I believe my job is about creating the tradition and supporting our leaders, supporting our groups to do the easiest work they’ll, as a result of I believe if I try this, then hopefully that exhibits within the video games we make and what goes to our gamers.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Truthfully a favourite a part of my job too, simply attending to know all of our expertise at our studios. Like unimaginable expertise, so an unimaginable job that you’ve got in entrance of you. However well-suited to the position, clearly, since you have had quite a lot of that pedigree, which is —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: — thrilling and I am blissful for the studios and the way we’re shifting ahead. So, I would love to speak about that as effectively, like we have got a giant and thrilling 12 months forward of us. We kicked off the 12 months with Developer Direct. I wish to discuss concerning the video games that had been in Developer Direct, as a result of we have got an opportunity to speak concerning the launch dates so we all know what’s coming, when it is coming. However we additionally simply launched Avowed, Obsidian’s newest recreation. So I have been spending the weekend enjoying that myself. How about you?
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I imply, once more, the fortunate a part of this job, spend time with all of the groups, spent a bunch of time with the Obsidian staff. After which actually, like I really feel like I have been enjoying Avowed for like three or 4 months, as a result of we have — yeah, we clearly have a look at what we’re constructing. However simply seeing the response of gamers, seeing the critiques, seeing simply folks share the identical love for the (inaudible), they have a lot ardour, Carrie, Feargus, all the staff, a lot ardour into the sport. And yeah, it is a great recreation, it is obtained great story. If you have not checked it out, go test it out. However simply seeing all of the critiques and it is an actual private second for a staff once you put a recreation on the market.
TINA AMINI: Completely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply seeing the reactions and simply a few of the hype across the recreation, and other people actually having fun with it, I believe’s been nice to see.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I am sadly solely 5 hours in, so instantly once we wrap up I am going dwelling and I am enjoying some extra.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Okay, yeah.
TINA AMINI: This has been formally sanctioned. However even 5 hours in there’s a lot depth and richness.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: And we have had the pleasure of getting Carrie Patel, Sport Director, out on the podcast earlier than. She’s been on Prolonged with me, so I’ve gotten to speak to her fairly a bit. I really like Carrie, shout out to Carrie.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely. And simply Obsidians play the sport your manner, and similar to Avowed, positive it is a recreation you’ll be able to play by means of the story and thru the facet quests, however there’s really numerous the way in which you load out together with your character, which you can actually play the sport in very, very other ways and I really like that. >> Yeah. It is each the sport play, however then it is also the exploration which is absolutely cool. I used to be simply at DICE and quite a lot of my journalist buddies had been telling me, oh, my God, the verticality! And it is like sure, we have been principally speaking concerning the verticality within the podcast with Carrie and there may be a lot to do and there may be that sense of, I see that factor within the distance and I wish to go interact with that factor. And there is one thing in that setting so that you can do. Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: And it is like my sort of recreation, and been seeing quite a lot of good critiques on the market.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and similar to the story and the setting and like I am tremendous blissful for Obsidian and —
TINA AMINI: World-class storytellers, I am loving Kai to this point. He is like scratching my like New Yorker sarcasm itch. So it is personality-wise, we’re a very good match.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good, I really like that.
TINA AMINI: Properly, we additionally had a bunch of different video games showcased in Developer Direct this 12 months. First off, I simply should say, I completely love engaged on that present. It is each as a result of we get to love actually embed with the studios, like at their studio, so all the viewers will get to see what’s the studio setting and like what’s the tradition, how are folks working collectively. And it is simply such an exquisite storytelling format, I believe, if I am —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I really like the format and I believe simply, and I believe you mentioned it effectively earlier, simply placing our expertise, like we’ve got so many — a lot expertise throughout our studios and simply the extra you place them — I all the time really feel slightly little bit of a shill once I come and do that factor. It is like, you do not actually wish to hear from me speaking about our video games, you wish to hear from our staff members, and Developer Direct is only a actually nice setting for them to speak concerning the video games and the fervour and yeah, like South of Midnight was on there, which clearly a staff I’ve labored tremendous intently with. And listening to them inform the story and the inspiration, it is a terrific format.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I really like the Compulsion staff, that is really their third ever recreation, which is fairly unimaginable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep.
TINA AMINI: They’ve a really distinctive fashion, if you happen to’ve, if the group our there has performed their earlier two video games as effectively. Individuals had been actually celebrating the storytelling, the performances, and there is a lot coronary heart in that recreation and I like to see folks having fun with that once I’ve seen the critiques.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is a, and once more, very, very fortunate I have been enjoying it lots. The creatures, the storytelling, the southern gothic, like there isn’t any recreation I can consider that is been in a setting that they’ve realized and it is stunning, the artwork’s stunning. The, like I mentioned, storytelling, the creatures, the audio, the music —
TINA AMINI: The music too, sure. Particularly the music, you all the time, in each recreation the music is unquestionably matching the tone, like the atmosphere. Are you in a boss combat, or are you simply in an environmental sort of extra peaceable setting. However the way in which that the music’s like actually talking to the bosses.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is the storytelling.
TINA AMINI: It is their theme tune. Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is unimaginable.
TINA AMINI: I believed it was so intelligent. Yeah. So I used to be actually blissful to have that in our present, that one’s popping out April 8, we introduced in Developer Direct. Enjoyable reality really, earlier than we discuss concerning the different video games, is Artwork Director, Whitney Clayton, who opened the (inaudible) for South of Midnight, she really designed their entire studios too. The studio area itself. And it’s beautiful.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is a great place, yeah.
TINA AMINI: — I needed to steal her over and assist design our of places of work and he mentioned, completely not. In order that’s not occurring.
CRAIG DUNCAN: See, I went for a special factor, I am like hey, I can simply be primarily based in right here. As a result of —
TINA AMINI: Sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: — it simply feels so inventive and it is again to again, you wish to be surrounded by the issues that encourage you.
TINA AMINI: Sure and you are feeling the creativity once you’re there.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely.
TINA AMINI: I very a lot love their area and that is the fantastic thing about Developer Direct, you get to see a few of that within the environmental storytelling that we do within the present. However we additionally had a really thrilling reveal with Ninja Gaiden 4. In order that’s been within the works for a while. What’s our backstory with that franchise?
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I really like the story behind that. So, not solely Staff Ninja, however together with Platinum Video games and I do know there was quite a lot of, what are Platinum Video games engaged on, actually prestigious developer. Ninja Gaiden, I imply it is a franchise began on arcade after which dwelling computer systems. And I suppose, I believe the unique Nintendo there was a Ninja Gaiden model, if my reminiscence serves me accurately. But it surely’s additionally a franchise that is been synonymous with Xbox through the years in a number of generations. So, simply to convey an excellent up-to-date, extremely polished, simply seeing simply the tempo of fight, the joy, the boss — prefer it’s obtained a lot. And I believe followers are going to be blown away by the sport. They will take pleasure in it. I really love the shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 as effectively.
TINA AMINI: Sure, slightly bonus shock, sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply the truth that we get to have these sort of surprises within the exhibits and other people can go play it instantly on Sport Move is absolutely nice, and stay up for Ninja Gaiden 4 later this 12 months.
TINA AMINI: Precisely, it is such a great way to only sort of set it again up and scratch that nostalgia itch, after which remind the group about like the nice prowess and —
CRAIG DUNCAN: It has been some time because the final one —
TINA AMINI: Sure, precisely. Yeah.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, simply placing it again on folks’s radars and what was nice concerning the franchise, however the publishing staff actually enthusiastic about it. Every part we’re seeing, like we expect the sport’s shaping up rather well. So.
TINA AMINI: Sure, we’ve got a lot love for Ninja Gaiden internally. The producer on my staff that took on that individual section and flew to Japan and labored with the studio, used to again within the day work for IGN, 10 years in the past was begging for the return of Ninja Gaiden, so very particular for lots of us internally at Xbox, to be sort of bringing this out into the world with these groups and get the group as excited as we’re —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is a terrific franchise.
TINA AMINI: — actually particular. Sure, completely. Properly, we additionally had third-party buddies present up —
CRAIG DUNCAN: You probably did?
TINA AMINI: — with a brand new studio, Sandfall Interactive, that is their first recreation that they are ever transport collectively as a staff, and it is Expedition 33. It seems to be beautiful.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I am excited to play this one. Like, and once more, that is the bit the place it is not a part of my job, but it surely was the, it was the sport within the present that I am like hey, I actually prefer it. JRPG, plus distinctive setting, plus new IP. Yeah, I am actually excited to play. I believe I’ve seen as a lot as anybody else has seen, however —
TINA AMINI: The one one you’ll be able to say that with.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Completely, however what I really like about Developer Direct once more, is it showcasing a brand new studio, a brand new IP, and I really like that we are able to try this on the largest stage and present that to the world. So.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, and that staff is absolutely great. I obtained to spend time with them engaged on their section collectively. Their love for JRPGs is simply so obvious. They had been so embedded of their section it was like such a pleasure to work with them and assist them inform their story.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Unimaginable.
TINA AMINI: Sure, completely, they actually have their very own like distinctive positioning on it, and like actually making it their very own. It’s extremely enjoyable to study from the behind the scenes, like simply how a lot they’re placing into this recreation, and we introduced it is popping out April 24, so —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure, very quickly.
TINA AMINI: — one other, yeah, one other one to make for a busy 12 months. And there was one different recreation in Developer Direct, after all, our huge nearer, our summer time blockbuster if you’ll, for DOOM: The Darkish Ages, introduced for Might 15. So very thrilling to have that one shut out the present.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and once more, tremendous excited for the sport, the staff, and simply it is an incredible franchise, very storied franchise, DOOM. And once more, I do not wish to converse for them, however like I believe it should be an incredible model of DOOM, very completely different, however yeah. Simply —
TINA AMINI: It feels that option to me too.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Tremendous cool.
TINA AMINI: Talking of it being a storied franchise, they did such a very good job, each Hugo and Marty simply sort of drawing again on just like the earlier DOOMs, the position that you just performed, after which what that’s in comparison with Darkish Ages.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: And that sort of like huge mecca, like gob smacking chaos that you’ll be discovering your self in. So, undoubtedly that huge summer time blockbuster vibe for Might 15 launch date. We did additionally prevails announce that DOOM was going to be coming to different platforms. And since then we have had a bunch of different information about different video games of ours coming to different platforms. Talking of Bethesda, additionally Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep, after all.
TINA AMINI: And transient sidebar for Indiana Jones, that gained, took dwelling three awards from DICE really.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, large, congratulations.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I had the pleasure of congratulating Todd in individual, just like the staff was actually excited. It was so nice to see MachineGames on stage, taking dwelling three awards. So that they gained Journey Sport of the Yr, Excellent Achievement in Character, which after all went to Journey Baker for Indie himself, and Achievement in Story. All tremendous well-deserved.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Properly-deserved.
TINA AMINI: I beloved enjoying that recreation. I believe I devoured it in two days, doing nothing else with my life, however I believe it was well-spent hours I might say.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too, and once more sort of obtained to play it pre-launch, however what they constructed was unimaginable and well-deserving of all of the awards.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Very blissful for that staff.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too.
TINA AMINI: However on that word, a few of the video games which are going to be coming to different platforms, they’re a few of our like long-standing sort of flagship collection if you’ll. So I am simply curious what you assume the Xbox group ought to take away from the truth that we have made that call to convey extra video games to extra platforms.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I believe it is good for avid gamers, I believe it is good for our studios. Our studios make wonderful video games, and we wish to give these video games the possibility to succeed in the broadest viewers attainable. So, even when I believe again to once I had my Studio Head of Sea of Thieves hat on, having to see if these attain their a number of platforms, with the ability to take away limitations so these gamers might play collectively. After which we introduced Forza Horizon 5, which one of many greatest video games on Xbox. I am very biased, after all, as a result of I do know the staff tremendous effectively, however arguably I believe in all probability probably the greatest racing video games ever, ever, ever, ever made.
TINA AMINI: I believe lots of people agree with you.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I simply assume it is good for avid gamers, it is good to have our video games attain extra locations.
TINA AMINI: It is a few of that high quality of life ingredient for avid gamers, but in addition blissful for our builders that get an opportunity to share their artwork with extra folks.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Everybody that makes a recreation needs it to succeed in as many gamers as attainable. So.
TINA AMINI: Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I really like that we may give that chance.
TINA AMINI: Completely. Properly, there’s one different extremely anticipated recreation —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure!
TINA AMINI: — that individuals could be very enthusiastic about, that we have not talked about but, and that is Fable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure.
TINA AMINI: So the place are we at with Fable?
CRAIG DUNCAN: So, I simply wish to begin with actually excited, actually enthusiastic about progress, actually excited the place Playground are. We beforehand introduced the date for Fable as 2025, we are literally going to provide Fable extra time and it should ship in 2026 now. Whereas I do know that is not perhaps the information folks wish to hear, what I wish to guarantee folks of is that it is undoubtedly definitely worth the wait. And I simply, I’ve unequivocal confidence within the Playground staff. If you concentrate on their historical past and legacy for Forza Horizon, the final two video games critically acclaimed (inaudible) —
TINA AMINI: Award-winning.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Award-winning, stunning, performed nice. And simply what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, simply consider the visuals of what you count on of Playground Video games, plus wonderful recreation play, British humor, Playground’s model of Albion, so impressed by what’s gone earlier than with the franchise, however their take. And fairly frankly, probably the most superbly realized model of Albion you have ever seen. So actually excited concerning the plans and actually excited concerning the future and I would like the group to grasp that we do these items for the most effective of the video games, and the groups, and finally that leads to the most effective video games, or the most effective recreation for the group.
TINA AMINI: And I believe out of your go to you really managed to convey over some footage for us to see a few of these stunning visuals as effectively.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. So, I believe we will present a few of the, a few of the footage, this is not a trailer or something. We thought as we had been going to speak concerning the recreation, it was vital to point out a few of the issues.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, we get to see a few of these scenes, like sort of each simply strolling by means of environments the place, and there will likely be some fight, some metropolis strolling scenes, simply actually seeing how the gorgeous selection in environments which are within the recreation.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I’ve performed some facets of it which are within the metropolis primarily based, and once more, I am making an attempt to be very cautious that I do not spoil something. Ralph and the staff will not forgive me if I spoil one thing. However I performed a few of the metropolis parts, I performed a few of the quests, I performed a few of the fight, I performed a boss battle, I’ve used magic. Prefer it felt wonderful, and I had a good time, and once more, I keep in mind the originals and the scene, I’ve performed that in recreation play. I am not going to spoil the backstory of what is going on on, however as you’ll be able to see, genuinely stunning. Performs nice.
TINA AMINI: Simply seeing just like the cinematics after which slicing to the precise like combat over right here, it is beautiful. It could barely inform the distinction, which is such a seamless transition.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. It’s extremely actual, the whole lot you are seeing right here may be very playable. I’ve seen a bunch greater than that, I am very excited. So take my phrase for it. However hopefully what the staff can see right here is sufficient to construct pleasure.
TINA AMINI: I really like the little particulars, it is nice to see how a lot emphasis is being put into all of that.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and there isn’t any larger followers of Fable as a franchise because the Playground staff which are making it. So I believe it is a actually enjoyable stability between what are the sport tenets which are true to Fable, and what’s some modern-day reimagining of what’s Playground Video games’ model of Fable.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. The fashionable retelling of Fable. Very excited myself, I have been an enormous Fable participant since day one. So, I am excited for 2026.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: Alright, effectively that is all of the information that we’ve got for this specific episode and for what’s arising for the remainder of the 12 months. However earlier than we ship you again off to go hang around with different studios and see all of their video games and inform me about all of the issues that you just’re seeing there, I might simply like to know like what are you enjoying, what are you trying ahead to the remainder of the 12 months, perhaps one thing non-Xbox Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is sort of difficult, as a result of this job is full on, like as you’d think about. And so I spend quite a lot of time, so clearly I am over in Redmond this week. I’ve obtained a Steam Deck that is stuffed with XGS video games, so I spend quite a lot of our time enjoying our personal video games. We have a bunch of stuff we have not introduced, so clearly I spend a bunch of time with that. I believe as we have talked about earlier, I believe Expedition 33 I believe is one thing I am trying ahead to enjoying. Was cool to see the Swap 2 announcement, so like all the time curious and enthusiastic about what Nintendo do, so I believe that will likely be cool. However yeah, similar to we’ve got tons occurring.
TINA AMINI: We do.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I try to spend as a lot time as I can enjoying our personal video games. Yeah, so.
TINA AMINI: We’ll name it analysis.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: It is enjoyable analysis.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It’s enjoyable analysis.
TINA AMINI: That is me enjoying Avowed later.
CRAIG DUNCAN: It is the most effective a part of the job.
TINA AMINI: Proceed my journey, sure, precisely. Properly, thanks a lot for coming by, I hope we’ve got you once more right here at Xbox Studio, to not be confused with Xbox Sport Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: That’s complicated.
TINA AMINI: — many places, we’re however one location, right here in Redmond as effectively. And yeah, we’re trying ahead to seeing extra the remainder of the 12 months, and I hope everybody else at dwelling watching is equally excited. And we’ll see you on the subsequent present.
