Phil spencer gets real about gaming studio closures – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Jess Weatherbed
Phil Spencer gets real about gaming studio closures.

It’s not about profits. When asked if Game Pass could have prevented studio closures in a leaked email from the FTC v. Microsoft case, the Microsoft Gaming CEO said that closures are “almost always” because of “leadership leaving (Lionhead as an example) or team just losing its passion (Ensemble as an example).”

A screenshot taken from emails leaked in the FTC v. Microsoft case.
‘I swear. I’m just super worried about the moat you’ve built, that the winds will change and we have a bloodbath a few years down the road.’
Image: FTC v. Microsoft
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