Xbox CEO Embraces Metaverse, Cautious of P2E Games

Phil Spencer, President of Xbox at Microsoft, holds an optimistic view of the metaverse, yet he exhibits caution towards play-to-earn (P2E) crypto games due to their economic and speculative elements.

Speaking with Emily Chang of Bloomberg on August 25, Spencer remarked that although the concept of the metaverse might not be fully embraced by all players, many have essentially been part of it for decades:

“My perspective on the metaverse is this: Players have been involved in the metaverse for about 30 years. Engaging in games like World of Warcraft or Roblox means participating in a shared world where everyone is connected.”

Spencer defines the metaverse as a “3D shared world” where individuals can interact and communicate freely, engaging in shared experiences and objectives.

These views are in line with those of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. In a November conversation with Bloomberg, Nadella suggested that the integration of established games into the metaverse concept is a natural progression:

“You might see Halo as just a game, but it’s a metaverse. The same goes for Minecraft and Flight Sim. Currently, they exist in a more 2D format, but the real question is about transitioning them into a fully 3D world. That’s certainly something we’re aiming to achieve.”


Cautious about P2E

The Xbox executive, Phil Spencer, expressed a more cautious stance regarding blockchain-based play-to-earn (P2E) games.

While acknowledging the longstanding monetization practices in gaming, Spencer expressed concerns about games becoming overly centered on service tasks aimed solely at generating digital currency.

Spencer stated, “I approach P2E with caution. It creates a dynamic where the gaming experience potentially transforms into a workforce, with certain players earning money.”

However, the CEO did not completely dismiss the potential of P2E, suggesting that beyond monetization, there might be interesting use cases worth exploring.


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