Xbox Fans to Expect More Movie and TV Adaptations, Says Phil Spencer

Microsoft's foray into adapting its video games into movies and TV shows continues undeterred, despite the setback with the TV adaptation of Halo. Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, confirmed to Variety that fans should anticipate more adaptations in the future. This announcement comes ahead of the release of "A Minecraft Movie," a big-screen adaptation of the popular Microsoft-owned sandbox game, starring Jack Black. High expectations are set for this film, and a successful run could lead to sequels.

Following the success of the "Fallout" series on Prime Video, which is set to return for a second season, Microsoft is keen on expanding its portfolio of video game adaptations. However, the "Halo" TV series, despite its substantial budget, was canceled after two seasons due to poor reception. Spencer emphasized that Microsoft is learning from these experiences, gaining confidence, and is committed to producing more adaptations.

"We're learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more," Spencer stated. He acknowledged the learning curve from both "Halo" and "Fallout," suggesting that these projects are building blocks for future endeavors. "We learned from doing Halo. We learned from doing Fallout. So all of these build on themselves. And obviously, we'll have a couple that miss. But what I'd say to the Xbox community that likes this work is, 'You're going to see more, because we're gaining confidence and we're learning through this,'" he added.

Speculation is rife about which Xbox game could be next in line for adaptation. In 2022, Netflix announced plans for a live-action film and an animated TV series based on "Gears of War," though updates have been sparse, with actor Dave Bautista expressing interest in playing Marcus Fenix.

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Given the success of "Fallout," could Prime Video explore an "Elder Scrolls" or "Skyrim" TV show? However, with Amazon's existing fantasy series like "The Rings of Power" and "The Wheel of Time," they might feel sufficiently covered in this genre.

Sony's success with the "Gran Turismo" movie suggests that Microsoft might consider a "Forza Horizon" adaptation. Microsoft, now owning Activision Blizzard, could also revisit the idea of a "Call of Duty" movie or another "Warcraft" adaptation. Jason Schreier's book, "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment," revealed that Activision Blizzard had series in development with Netflix for "Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo," which were eventually dropped. Microsoft's involvement might breathe new life into these projects.

For a more family-friendly option, Microsoft could adapt "Crash Bandicoot" into an animated movie or TV series, following the success of "Mario" and "Sonic" films. Additionally, with "Fable" set for a reboot in 2026, an adaptation could be on the horizon. And, despite the previous TV series' failure, could Microsoft give "Halo" another shot with a high-budget movie?

Microsoft's console rivals, Sony and Nintendo, have made significant strides in this area. Sony's successes include the "Uncharted" movie, HBO's "The Last of Us," and the upcoming second season of "Twisted Metal." Sony has also announced a "Helldivers 2" movie, a film adaptation of "Horizon Zero Dawn," and an anime adaptation of "Ghost of Tsushima," with the "God of War" TV show already slated for two seasons.

Nintendo boasts the most successful video game adaptation to date with "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and a sequel is in development along with a live-action "The Legend of Zelda" adaptation.