The head of the Xbox Games division of Microsoft, Phil Spencer, has said that the impact of Coronavirus on the video game industry will be felt in early 2021, through the delay of video games because of the result of the impact of the pandemic on development processes.
One of the examples that Spencer gives, to show how the pandemic will affect launches whose development has not yet reached the most advanced stages, is that of motion capture. An essential process in several games and, like others, is completely stopped. According to the Microsoft executive, the games scheduled for summer or autumn 2020 will not have any problem reaching stores, but games scheduled for early 2021 will feel the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Phil Spencer is trying to explain that many games, which have not even been revealed yet, cannot continue with their normal development, even in remote work, as the capture of movements or voice requires several people in the same room, open offices, and companies operating within the normal, something that is not yet possible in most parts of the world.
“Mocap is just something that’s basically stopped. We’re not going into mocap studios,” said Spencer. “If you had all your animation captured and you’re doing touch up in more individual art production and in areas like textures and other things, you’re in a better position,” he explained. “If you’re waiting for a lot of either large audio work — when it’s with symphonies and other things — or mocap, you’re held up right now and you’re making progress in areas that you are.”
And talking about the Xbox Series X, Spencer does not see any problems, but he is confident in the team and in the progress that is being made for the new Microsoft console. However, he acknowledges that some games might undergo adjustments, even small ones.
In any case, with the announcement of Xbox 20/20, a monthly program, Microsoft will intend to offer updates on everything related to the present and future of Xbox consoles.
