Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Xbox “money tap” was “unsustainable,” says dev who admits he wouldn’t have funded his own game
David Sears, co-director of Xbox game South of Midnight, says Microsoft’s funding approach to games seemed unsustainable and that, if he had been in charge, he might have stopped funding his own project. His comments highlight how the recent cuts have prompted questions about Xbox’s spending and the risks of relying on a seemingly deep pool of money.
In an interview with MinnMax, Sears recalled warning that closing the “money tap” could have traumatic consequences. He said he wanted to make South of Midnight, but would have redirected funds from it if that meant limiting other spending. The article says Microsoft’s games division is cutting 3,200 jobs after years of declining financial returns.
In short
- David Sears says Xbox’s game funding was unsustainable.
- He might have stopped funding South of Midnight if in charge.
- Microsoft’s games division is cutting 3,200 jobs.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A company cannot keep funding projects at a level that its financial returns do not support. Redirecting money from a game, even one its director cares about, could protect the wider business, preserve jobs and make future investment more sustainable.
The case against
Long-term investment in distinctive games can build audiences and strengthen a platform, even when returns are uncertain or take time to materialise. Abruptly closing the funding tap may waste work already done, damage creative teams and reduce the range of games available, while the reported job cuts show that the costs of retrenchment also fall on workers.
Explained simply
Xbox is Microsoft’s video game business, which makes the Xbox console and publishes games for it and other platforms. South of Midnight is a game developed by Compulsion Games, with David Sears as a co-director; making a major game can require years of work and substantial funding.
Microsoft’s games division has spent heavily on studios and new games, while facing pressure to improve its financial returns. That makes decisions about which projects to fund significant for developers, workers and players: cuts can affect jobs and the range of games being made.