Of all the prominent figures within the gaming industry, Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, is one of the more active and involved faces most gaming enthusiasts will notice consistently. Over the years of Xbox, Spencer has been an integral component of many important moments in the publisher's history. Now, fans of a recent game release are starting to suspect something huge might happen after noticing a certain item on Spencer's shelf in the background of his office.
Given how important Phil Spencer is to the development of various new Xbox endeavors, fans are often quick to assume that something new might be happening. Some of these predictions and speculation can come from something as simple as a particular item appearing in the background of Spencer's office, such as the Xbox Series S being hidden on Phil Spencer's shelf months before the launch of the console. However, this most recent bout of speculation actually involves Elden Ring.
During his appearance at the BAFTA Game Awards 2022, fans were quick to notice a sword displayed on the top shelf in the background of Spencer's office. Further research showed that the sword was a replica weapon from Elden Ring, which came included with a limited press kit. This, inevitably, led to fans theorizing what the presence of the sword could indicate, if anything.
Some fans wondered if the sword in the background meant that Elden Ring was coming to Xbox Game Pass. Given the recent popularity and attention that Elden Ring has received in the short time that it's been commercially available, it's certainly possible that a game like that would make an excellent addition to Xbox Game Pass.
Though, the more likely answer is that Phil Spencer just enjoys Elden Ring. Back in 2020, it was reported that Phil Spencer had played quite a bit of Elden Ring and was impressed with what the game had to offer. It's certainly possible that Elden Ring might make its way onto Xbox Game Pass at some point, but the sword in the background likely isn't meant to signify anything to that effect.
In any case, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Xbox going forward. Despite launching over a year ago, both the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S are still difficult to get ahold of. With any luck, the high demand for both systems will start to decrease as time goes on.
Source: Pure Xbox