Summary

  • Xbox CEO Phil Spencer named Elden Ring as his favorite game of the generation.
  • Spencer has publicly praised Elden Ring before and has shown his love for the game.
  • In addition, he also revealed that Ninja Gaiden was his favorite franchise by Japanese devs at the moment.

Xbox veteran and Microsoft Gaming CEO, Phil Spencer, recently picked Elden Ring as his favorite title to come out during the latest console generation. Besides current-gen consoles, the Xbox boss's game of choice, which was released by FromSoftware in 2022, is also available on previous-gen platforms.

Since taking the reins of Microsoft's video game brand in early 2014, Phil Spencer has increasingly been turning into a name synonymous with the Xbox brand. From the huge growth of Xbox Game Pass to major studio acquisitions, such as the Activision-Blizzard takeover, the American exec has been there throughout some of the company's biggest moments. Speaking of 'biggest moments,' one of the most notable releases in the game industry in recent years has been the award-winning RPG Elden Ring, which experienced monumental success at the time of launch and, then again, when the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC was released. While professing his love for the highly decorated title, the Xbox head recently bestowed a distinguished recognition upon the Soulslike game.

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24 Video Game Worlds Bigger Than Elden Ring

While Elden Ring has an impressive open world for players, there are other games that have a bigger map for players to explore.

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In an interview with XboxEra, Spencer named Elden Ring as his "best" game of the ongoing generation. Highlighting his interest in "new worlds" and new IPs, he shared that the Hidetaka Miyazaki-directed game took "so much" of his time "in a good way." Before choosing FromSoftware's magnum opus, he mentioned his decision to "leave out" naming any first-party Xbox game, possibly to avoid any unintentional self-promotion. Moreover, the Microsoft Gaming chief fondly recalled his Astrologer class character in Elden Ring "throwing rocks at people" and called the experience "so much fun." In the segment that followed, he also revealed that Ninja Gaiden was his favorite franchise by Japanese devs at the moment.

Phil Spencer's Fondness of Elden Ring is No Secret

It's worth noting that Phil Spencer's preference for Elden Ring may not come as a surprise to many, as he has publicly praised the game before. Back in 2020, he revealed playing a pre-release version of the fantasy title and called it "the most ambitious game" by Miyazaki. A couple of months after the game's launch, certain eagle-eyed fans also spotted an Elden Ring memorabilia on the Xbox lead's shelf, something that could also be noticed in the background of his video frame during the latest chat with XboxEra.

Meanwhile, Spencer would be preparing for the launch of another major action game, but this time from an Xbox-owned studio called id Software. On May 15, 2025, Doom: The Dark Ages is scheduled to hit the stores for players on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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Elden Ring Tag Page Cover Art
10 /10

Elden Ring
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RPG
Action
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
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Released
February 25, 2022
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
From Software
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The Erdtree in Elden Ring
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The Erdtree in Elden Ring
malenia's intro scene in elden ring
Elden Ring: Most Overpowered Weapon Of Each Category, Ranked Player using radahn's rain weapon skill
elden ring player one-shots ghostflame dragon with incredible buff system
elden ring player defeats all 207 bosses without dying
elden ring fan creates handmade quest log for friend's first playthrough
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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ELDEN RING, developed by FromSoftware, Inc. And BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to date. Hidetaka Miyazaki - President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls.

George R.R. Martin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons. As a writer-producer, he has worked on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and pilots that were never made. He lives with the lovely Parris in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Engine
Proprietary
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PS4 & PS5 and Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
Cross Save
no
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
RPG, Action
How Long To Beat
58 Hours
X|S Optimized
yes
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty