Phil Spencer Reveals Real Reason Behind an Xbox Game Pass Release Many Call the Elder Scrolls-Killer

Action RPG enthusiasts were caught off guard when Xbox announced the delay of Obsidian Entertainment’s highly anticipated first-person fantasy RPG, Avowed, to February 2025. The announcement sparked widespread speculation about the game’s development status, with many wondering if quality concerns were behind the decision.

Now, Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer has stepped forward to set the record straight in the latest candid interview. His revelations about the real reason behind Avowed’s delay paint a fascinating picture of Xbox’s strategic approach to Game Pass releases, and it’s not what most people expected.

The Strategic Timing of Avowed‘s Release

In a revealing conversation with GameFile (via VGC), Spencer addressed the elephant in the room head-on. Rather than quality concerns or hiccups in the development process, the decision to push Avowed to early 2025 appears to have been part of a carefully orchestrated release strategy:

We can afford it when we have the Diablo expansion, then Black Ops, then Indy [and the Great Circle].

This calculated move makes perfect sense when you consider the packed holiday lineup. With heavy hitters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 already dominating the scene and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle set to make waves next month, finding the right window for a new IP becomes crucial.

Spencer was particularly emphatic about one point:

We didn’t move it because Obsidian needed the time. They’ll use the time

The statement suggests that Obsidian‘s first major release since joining Xbox Game Studios in 2018 is already in fighting shape. The studio, known for hits like Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and The Outer Worlds, seems to have crafted something special that Xbox wants to give its proper due.

A New Era for Xbox Game Pass

The decision to delay Avowed reflects a broader strategy at Xbox, one that involves careful coordination between various teams:

[Xbox Game Studios head] Matt Booty and I, we plan it out, we talk with the Game Pass team… We said, ‘Okay, let’s make sure we pace this out a little better’.

This level of strategic planning shows that, contrary to popular belief, there’s quite a bit of thought that goes into Xbox Game Pass releases. Rather than simply throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, Xbox seems to be taking a more curated approach to its content rollout.

For Avowed, a game that many are already comparing to Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls series in terms of scope and ambition, this breathing room could be exactly what it needs to make its mark. After all, when you’re launching what some fans are boldly calling an “Elder Scrolls-killer,” timing is everything.

While some fans might be naturally disappointed by the delay, the silver lining is that Obsidian will have additional time to polish what could be their most ambitious project to date. And if the studio’s track record is anything to go by, that extra time could mean the difference between a good game and a great one.

What do you think about Xbox’s decision to delay Avowed? Would you prefer to see games launch as soon as they’re ready? Share your thoughts in the comments below!