Xbox Chief Phil Spencer Addresses Recent Leaks: 'A Lot Has Changed'

Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, has spoken out about the recent leaks that exposed a significant amount of information about Microsoft's upcoming gaming plans, which were initially intended for a US court. In a social media post, Spencer emphasized that the leaked documents contained outdated information, citing a 2020 email discussing the potential acquisition of Nintendo as an example. 'We've seen the conversation around old emails and documents,' Spencer stated. 'It's tough to see our team's work shared in this way because so much has changed, and there's a lot to be excited about right now and in the future. We'll share our actual plans when we're ready.' The leaked documents, which were part of Microsoft's ongoing legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission over the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, were mistakenly uploaded to a publicly accessible court website instead of being shared via a secure cloud link. The leaked information included Microsoft's target release year of 2028 for its next Xbox console, details about two mid-generation refreshes for the Xbox Series X and S, a hybrid cloud gaming platform, Bethesda's future game lineup, and Spencer's ambition to acquire Nintendo. Initially, it was believed that the Federal Trade Commission was responsible for the leak, but the regulator's director of public affairs, Douglas Farrar, denied this claim and shared a court order confirming that Microsoft had provided the link to the documents. The court has since ordered the removal of the documents, and both Microsoft and the FTC have been instructed to resubmit any exhibits via a secure cloud link by September 22.