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 right this moment, I get the good pleasure of introducing you all to Craig Duncan, our new Head of Xbox Recreation Studios. Welcome to Xbox Studio, to not be confused together with your Xbox Recreation Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: So I am answerable 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 and marketing right here, in addition to this pretty podcast. So sure, thanks a lot for becoming a member of the podcast. I do need to begin with sort of giving the group a little bit 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’ve got seen rather a lot, you’ve got seen the ups and down of the business, the literal ups and downs.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: You have additionally been lauded the place you have been Studio Head at Uncommon for a few years. You have been lauded on your work there. The studio tradition, clearly you shipped Uncommon Replay, you’ve got been answerable for Sea of Thieves for its tens of millions, aka seven years it has been ongoing now. And also you even have been working with Ninja Concept and Compulsion earlier than this new function. So you’ve got been across the block, as they are saying.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it has been a enjoyable couple of a long time, and I 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 business, 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 a little bit little bit of (inaudible) halfway video games, a little bit little bit of (inaudible) digital, after which joined Uncommon to guide them. And I’ve seen Xbox evolve and alter over, I assume 14 years I have been with Xbox now. And actually, the a part of the job I like greater than something is working with studios. I feel everybody’s function is necessary, and I feel my job as a frontrunner is to assist create the best atmosphere for our groups to achieve success, create a tradition the place they’ll assist one another, assist one another. Making video games is de facto exhausting, it isn’t any simpler now than it was 20 years in the past. The truth is, it is tougher than ever, competitors is greater, participant expectations are greater. So, I feel 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 feel if I try this, then hopefully that reveals within the video games we make and what goes to our gamers.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Actually a favourite a part of my job too, simply attending to know all of our expertise at our studios. Like unbelievable expertise, so an unbelievable job that you’ve got in entrance of you. However well-suited to the function, clearly, since you’ve got had loads of that pedigree, which is —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah.
TINA AMINI: — thrilling and I am joyful for the studios and the way we’re transferring ahead. So, I would love to speak about that as effectively, like we have got an enormous and thrilling 12 months forward of us. We kicked off the 12 months with Developer Direct. I need to discuss concerning the video games that have 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 evaluations, seeing simply individuals share the identical love for the (inaudible), they have a lot ardour, Carrie, Feargus, the entire staff, a lot ardour into the sport. And yeah, it is a fantastic recreation, it is received fantastic story. If you have not checked it out, go test it out. However simply seeing all of the evaluations 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 among the hype across the recreation, and other people actually having fun with it, I feel’s been nice to see.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I am sadly solely 5 hours in, so instantly after we wrap up I am going house 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, Recreation 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 like Carrie, shout out to Carrie.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, completely. And simply Obsidians play the sport your method, and identical to Avowed, positive it is a recreation you may play by means of the story and thru the facet quests, however there’s really numerous the best way you load out together with your character, that you may actually play the sport in very, very other ways and I like that. >> Yeah. It is each the sport play, however then it is also the exploration which is de facto cool. I used to be simply at DICE and loads of my journalist buddies have been telling me, oh, my God, the verticality! And it is like sure, we have been mainly 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 need to go have interaction with that factor. And there is one thing in that atmosphere so that you can do. Yeah, yeah.
TINA AMINI: And it is like my sort of recreation, and been seeing loads of good evaluations on the market.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and identical to the story and the setting and like I am tremendous joyful for Obsidian and —
TINA AMINI: World-class storytellers, I am loving Kai thus far. He is like scratching my like New Yorker sarcasm itch. So it is personality-wise, we’re match.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Good, I like that.
TINA AMINI: Nicely, we additionally had a bunch of different video games showcased in Developer Direct this 12 months. First off, I simply need to 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 the entire viewers will get to see what’s the studio atmosphere and like what’s the tradition, how are individuals working collectively. And it is simply such a gorgeous storytelling format, I feel, if I am —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I like the format and I feel simply, and I feel you mentioned it effectively earlier, simply placing our expertise, like we have now so many — a lot expertise throughout our studios and simply the extra you set them — I at all times really feel a little bit little bit of a shill after I come and do that factor. It is like, you do not actually need to hear from me speaking about our video games, you need 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 an excellent format.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I like the Compulsion staff, that is really their third ever recreation, which is fairly unbelievable.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yep.
TINA AMINI: They’ve a really distinctive type, in case you’ve, if the group our there has performed their earlier two video games as effectively. Individuals have been actually celebrating the storytelling, the performances, and there is a lot coronary heart in that recreation and I like to see individuals having fun with that after I’ve seen the evaluations.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is a, and once more, very, very fortunate I have been enjoying it rather a lot. The creatures, the storytelling, the southern gothic, like there is no 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 at all times, in each recreation the music is unquestionably matching the tone, like the atmosphere. Are you in a boss struggle, or are you simply in an environmental sort of extra peaceable setting. However the best way 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 unbelievable.
TINA AMINI: I assumed it was so intelligent. Yeah. So I used to be actually joyful to have that in our present, that one’s popping out April 8, we introduced in Developer Direct. Enjoyable truth 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 fantastic place, yeah.
TINA AMINI: — I wished to steal her over and assist design our of places of work and he mentioned, completely not. In order that’s not taking place.
CRAIG DUNCAN: See, I went for a unique factor, I am like hey, I can simply be based mostly in right here. As a result of —
TINA AMINI: Sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: — it simply feels so artistic and it is again to again, you need to be surrounded by the issues that encourage you.
TINA AMINI: Sure and you’re 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 like the story behind that. So, not solely Group Ninja, however together with Platinum Video games and I do know there was loads of, what are Platinum Video games engaged on, actually prestigious developer. Ninja Gaiden, I imply it is a franchise began on arcade after which house computer systems. And I assume, I feel the unique Nintendo there was a Ninja Gaiden model, if my reminiscence serves me accurately. However it’s additionally a franchise that is been synonymous with Xbox through the years in a number of generations. So, simply to deliver a brilliant up-to-date, extremely polished, simply seeing simply the tempo of fight, the joy, the boss — prefer it’s received a lot. And I feel followers are going to be blown away by the sport. They’ll get pleasure from it. I really love the shadow drop of Ninja Gaiden 2 as effectively.
TINA AMINI: Sure, a little bit bonus shock, sure.
CRAIG DUNCAN: And simply the truth that we get to have these sort of surprises within the reveals and other people can go play it instantly on Recreation Cross is de facto nice, and look ahead to 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 good prowess and —
CRAIG DUNCAN: It has been some time for the reason that final one —
TINA AMINI: Sure, precisely. Yeah.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, simply placing it again on individuals’s radars and what was nice concerning the franchise, however the publishing staff actually enthusiastic about it. Every little thing we’re seeing, like we expect the sport’s shaping up very well. So.
TINA AMINI: Sure, we have now a lot love for Ninja Gaiden internally. The producer on my staff that took on that exact phase 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 an excellent franchise.
TINA AMINI: — actually particular. Sure, completely. Nicely, 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 appears beautiful.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I am excited to play this one. Like, and once more, that is the bit the place it isn’t 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 feel I’ve seen as a lot as anybody else has seen, however —
TINA AMINI: The one one you may say that with.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Completely, however what I like about Developer Direct once more, is it showcasing a brand new studio, a brand new IP, and I like that we will try this on the largest stage and present that to the world. So.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, and that staff is de facto fantastic. I received to spend time with them engaged on their phase collectively. Their love for JRPGs is simply so obvious. They have been so embedded of their phase it was like such a pleasure to work with them and assist them inform their story.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Unbelievable.
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, in fact, our huge nearer, our summer season blockbuster if you’ll, for DOOM: The Darkish Ages, introduced for Could 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 a tremendous franchise, very storied franchise, DOOM. And once more, I do not need to communicate for them, however like I feel it may be a tremendous model of DOOM, very totally different, however yeah. Simply —
TINA AMINI: It feels that method to me too.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Tremendous cool.
TINA AMINI: Talking of it being a storied franchise, they did such job, each Hugo and Marty simply sort of drawing again on just like the earlier DOOMs, the function that you simply 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 will be discovering your self in. So, undoubtedly that huge summer season blockbuster vibe for Could 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, in fact.
TINA AMINI: And transient sidebar for Indiana Jones, that received, took house three awards from DICE really.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, big, congratulations.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, I had the pleasure of congratulating Todd in particular person, just like the staff was actually excited. It was so nice to see MachineGames on stage, taking house three awards. So that they received Journey Recreation of the Yr, Excellent Achievement in Character, which in fact went to Journey Baker for Indie himself, and Achievement in Story. All tremendous well-deserved.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Nicely-deserved.
TINA AMINI: I liked enjoying that recreation. I feel I devoured it in two days, doing nothing else with my life, however I feel it was well-spent hours I might say.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too, and once more sort of received to play it pre-launch, however what they constructed was unbelievable and well-deserving of all of the awards.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. Very joyful for that staff.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, me too.
TINA AMINI: However on that be aware, among the video games which might be 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 deliver extra video games to extra platforms.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, I feel it is good for players, I feel it is good for our studios. Our studios make superb video games, and we need to give these video games the prospect to succeed in the broadest viewers attainable. So, even when I feel again to after I had my Studio Head of Sea of Thieves hat on, having to see if these attain their a number of platforms, having the ability to take away obstacles so these gamers may play collectively. After which we introduced Forza Horizon 5, which one of many greatest video games on Xbox. I am very biased, in fact, as a result of I do know the staff tremendous effectively, however arguably I feel most likely among the best racing video games ever, ever, ever, ever made.
TINA AMINI: I feel lots of people agree with you.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I simply assume it is good for players, it is good to have our video games attain extra locations.
TINA AMINI: It is a few of that high quality of life factor for players, but in addition joyful for our builders that get an opportunity to share their artwork with extra individuals.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Everybody that makes a recreation needs it to succeed in as many gamers as attainable. So.
TINA AMINI: Precisely.
CRAIG DUNCAN: I like that we can provide that chance.
TINA AMINI: Completely. Nicely, there’s one different extremely anticipated recreation —
CRAIG DUNCAN: Sure!
TINA AMINI: — that individuals can be very enthusiastic about, that we’ve 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 need 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 offer Fable extra time and it may ship in 2026 now. Whereas I do know that is not possibly the information individuals need to hear, what I need to guarantee individuals of is that it is undoubtedly well 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 superb 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 fantastically realized model of Albion you’ve got ever seen. So actually excited concerning the plans and actually excited concerning the future and I need the group to know that we do this stuff for the perfect of the video games, and the groups, and in the end that ends in the perfect video games, or the perfect recreation for the group.
TINA AMINI: And I feel out of your go to you really managed to deliver over some footage for us to see a few of these stunning visuals as effectively.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. So, I feel we will present among the, among the footage, this is not a trailer or something. We thought as we have been going to speak concerning the recreation, it was necessary to point out among 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 might be some fight, some metropolis strolling scenes, simply actually seeing how the attractive selection in environments which might be within the recreation.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, and I’ve performed some points of it which might be within the metropolis based mostly, 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 among the metropolis parts, I performed among the quests, I performed among the fight, I performed a boss battle, I’ve used magic. Prefer it felt superb, 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 may see, genuinely stunning. Performs nice.
TINA AMINI: Simply seeing just like the cinematics after which slicing to the precise like struggle over right here, it is beautiful. It will probably barely inform the distinction, which is such a seamless transition.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah. It’s extremely actual, every thing you are seeing right here could 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 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 is no larger followers of Fable as a franchise because the Playground staff which might be making it. So I feel it is a actually enjoyable stability between what are the sport tenets which might be true to Fable, and what’s some modern-day reimagining of what’s Playground Video games’ model of Fable.
TINA AMINI: Yeah, completely. The trendy retelling of Fable. Very excited myself, I have been a large 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 have now 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 simply’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, possibly one thing non-Xbox Studios.
CRAIG DUNCAN: Yeah, it is sort of tough, as a result of this job is full on, like as you’d think about. And so I spend loads of time, so clearly I am over in Redmond this week. I’ve received a Steam Deck that is stuffed with XGS video games, so I spend loads of our time enjoying our personal video games. We have got a bunch of stuff we’ve not introduced, so clearly I spend a bunch of time with that. I feel as we have talked about earlier, I feel Expedition 33 I feel is one thing I am trying ahead to enjoying. Was cool to see the Swap 2 announcement, so like at all times curious and enthusiastic about what Nintendo do, so I feel that might be cool. However yeah, identical to we have now tons happening.
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 perfect a part of the job.
TINA AMINI: Proceed my journey, sure, precisely. Nicely, thanks a lot for coming by, I hope we have now you once more right here at Xbox Studio, to not be confused with Xbox Recreation 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 house watching is equally excited. And we’ll see you on the subsequent present.
