Last year, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said that it has been too long since the console had a big first-party release. This year, the team at Xbox hopes to change that with some pretty big titles scheduled for release.

The Xbox Series S/X has had a lean lineup of first-party titles since it launched nearly three years ago. The company is in a dire situation, missing its Xbox Game Pass subscription targets and it was included in the recent layoffs instituted by parent company Microsoft. But, just like how there's a light at the end of every tunnel, Spencer has good news to share with Xbox fans.

IGN got a chance to sit down with Spencer after the Developer_Direct, where the release dates of Minecraft: Legends and Redfall were revealed, to talk about the recent struggles of Xbox and the lack of first-party releases on the platform.

Spencer had this to say about the lack of first-party exclusives on the Xbox:

Our commitment to our fans is that we need to have a steady release of great games that people can play on our platform, and we didn't do enough of that in 2022, there's no doubt.

And fundamentally, that's on me. I'm the head of the business.

Spencer added that the upcoming year will be exciting for Xbox gamers as the production of games has steadily improved as people are returning to offices post-pandemic. He also hinted at an Xbox game showcase in the summer. Finally, it's all but confirmed that Starfield will get its own showcase after it was excluded from the Developer_Direct. 

According to Microsoft, Starfield wasn't quite ready for Bethesda to showcase and do a proper deep dive at the time.

Xbox currently has a stacked lineup of exclusives for the year with Forza Motorsports, Redfall, and Starfield slated to come out along with Minecraft Legends and Hi-Fi Rush. Elder Scrolls Online is also getting an update and is currently free-to-play as well (well, mostly).

With The Game Awards believing firmly in a strong first-half for the Xbox Series S and X, Spencer might have put his money where his mouth is.

Here's to hoping that the rumors of the delays to Forza Motorsport and Starfield weren't true.