Every year, the entertainment landscape sees a surge in video game adaptations for television and film, with deals frequently surfacing. Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming, stated, “The videogame business is successful by itself. It doesn’t need this outlet,” during a recent conversation.

Despite the massive box office successes of video game adaptations like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed over $1.3 billion, and the revenue generated from various Resident Evil films, Spencer argues that not every franchise should be pushed towards an adaptation into a movie or show. He emphasized the importance of allowing creativity to flourish without the pressures of licensing deals, saying, “let’s never turn this into something where it has to get done, every franchise has to have a game or a movie or a TV show.”

He also hinted at ongoing projects related to Microsoft’s gaming properties but refrained from sharing specifics. Spencer expressed hope for more adaptations in the future as confidence builds through experiences with previous projects like Halo and Fallout, which have seen varying degrees of success. As he noted, “you’re going to see more [adaptations], because we’re gaining confidence, and we’re learning through this.”