Forget what the Chinese Zodiac says. Eastern calendars will tell you 2020 is the Year Of The Rat, but any clued-in Xbox fan knows it’s really the 366 Of Xbox Series X. This is perhaps the most important year in Xbox history, as Microsoft juggles the launch of its next-gen console with existing hardware commitments. The Redmond giant also has a stream of new IPs in development, not to mention the nevermore-ambitious Xbox Game Pass to nurture. Take all these demands into account, and it’s no wonder Matt Booty is the busiest man in the biz. The head of Xbox Game Studios started his 25-plus-year career as sound department manager at Williams Electronics Games before rising through the ranks of Midway. Now he’s in charge of running all of Microsoft’s first-party studios, and we caught up with Booty to talk Scarlett (before the announcement that it would be called Xbox Series X), the future of Xbox One, and just how much Xbox Game Pass could change the industry going forward.
Since 2018, Microsoft has acquired seven studios and created two others, growing the Xbox Game Studios portfolio to 15 first-party teams. You’ve said now’s the time to start delivering on that growth – how strong is Microsoft’s position as we head into 2020?
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Official Xbox Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Official Xbox Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Why I love... Roaming the post-apocalypse
How modern releases are continuing to find creativity and beauty within gaming’s most prevalent setting: the end of the world
10 Best Multiplayer Games
From shooters to kitchen chaos, these titles are best played with friends
Revved up and ready to go
EA hands the wheel of Need For Speed back over to Criterion Games
The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor
Return to Tamriel’s frigid North this summer Chris Burke
Remothered: Broken Porcelain
We’re going potty for this cult classic survival horror sequel
Yakuza 0 Yakuza Kiwami Yakuza Kiwami 2
Triple trouble: Sega’s crime drama trio brings glorious thug‑thumping action to Xbox
Mosaic
ALL AROUND ME ARE FAMILIAR OFFICE SPACES
The Falconeer
Savouring the joys of flight with an indie that’s living on a (gigantic) wing and a prayer
10 Best Examples Of Great Architecture On Xbox
Games are crammed full of gorgeously crafted designs and architecture. From gables to gargoyles, we look at the best building designs on Xbox One
THE PROMISED 'LANDS
With so many great games competing for our time, how do you keep gamers locking and loading? Gearbox’s looter-shooter, Borderlands 3, knows how…