Renowned Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, known for his credible insights into the gaming industry, has recently shed light on the current state of Microsoft’s Xbox division and upcoming projects from Guerrilla Games. Schreier’s comments, made during a discussion on recent developments, paint a concerning picture for Xbox while offering a glimpse into the future of the Horizon franchise.
According to Schreier, Xbox is grappling with significant internal issues, characterized by frequent changes in direction and long-term planning. In a candid remark, he noted the disarray within Microsoft’s gaming division:
“Xbox is such a mess right now. I feel like their plan is changing every single year. Right now they’re talking about teasing handheld over and over again, but who knows? A year ago, they were saying Indiana Jones was never coming to PlayStation, so like, they change their minds every month. They’re just a disaster over there; it’s really sad.”
Schreier’s statement suggests a lack of consistency in Xbox’s strategy, with conflicting messages on key projects like the Indiana Jones title and ambiguous moves toward handheld gaming. This ongoing volatility has raised concerns about the future direction of the platform, as Xbox seems to be caught in a cycle of shifting priorities without clear long-term goals.
Shifting focus to Guerrilla Games, Schreier provided insight into their future roadmap, with Horizon Online poised to be the next major release. The anticipated third single-player installment in the Horizon series, however, appears to be further away than initially expected:
“And their plan…I mean, Horizon Online is their next product, not the third single-player game, looks like. So, that one may be ways off.”
This revelation confirms that Horizon Online will take center stage in the near future, aligning with Sony’s broader push for live service titles. Schreier further highlighted the significance of live service games for PlayStation, with Horizon emerging as one of the few survivors in what has been a challenging landscape for this genre:
“Yeah, I mean like, Sony-PlayStation’s live service initiative was no joke. Everybody was like…it’s live service games all around. Horizon is one of the few ones that hasn’t been cancelled or hasn’t come out and flopped the way Concord did, so…yeah, a lot of questions. A lot of people are working on that.”
Sony’s live service strategy has faced notable setbacks, with several projects either being canceled or failing to meet expectations upon release. However, Horizon Online stands as a key part of this initiative, suggesting that Sony sees potential in the franchise’s transition to a multiplayer format. Despite these challenges, Guerrilla Games appears to be moving ahead with confidence in the live service space.
