Game news The most awarded video game personality of the year 2022 is…
With only four awards, this personality received the most distinctions during the year 2022
Behind the countless papers on studio takeovers and new console exclusives, there are the personalities who are moving the industry. One of them, in particular, seems to have thrilled the sector more in 2022, according to an article by the media Exputer (based on data collected on the NeoGaf forum). Microsoft Gaming CEO and Xbox Brand Manager, Phil Spencer, would indeed have won most of the major awards in the industry during the year 2022, which amount to 4 in number. A figure that may seem ridiculous, but which is nevertheless much higher than those won by the colleagues.
Spencer notably received the Andrew Yoon Legend Award at the New York Game Awards ceremony earlier this year, an award that congratulates his “phenomenal contributions” to the industry. He also won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 25th DICE Awards ceremony, a distinction that recognizes his “passion and leadership throughout his career at Microsoft“, as well as all the initiatives taken within his position. He was also included in the ranking of the 50 most influential people published by the renowned Bloomberg. which salutes players from multiple fields, from technology to entertainment, including finance. A presence of course motivated by the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, still in the process of validation, for the astronomical amount of 69 billion dollars. Finally, the CEO will end the year with the Distinguished Achievement in Industry prize awarded at the 2022 Diamond Awards at the University of Washington; hardly surprising when you consider that he occupied their benches as an alumnus of the design and engineering department.
Spencer at the top, Microsoft in debate
If the period is quite tense for Microsoft, which continues to have to legitimize the takeover of Activision Blizzard against the United States Federal Trade Commission, Phil Spencer can nevertheless count on the recognition of his peers. It should also be noted that he recently received a notable promotion by becoming the CEO of Microsoft Gaming last year. Proof of his rising influence in the industry, as he hopes to complete the biggest deal in history this year 2023 despite the refusal of the competition. “Sony is trying to protect its dominance in the console market. Their way to increase it is to make the Xbox smaller“, he defended himself recently in the Second Request podcast.
Still, the community of players, itself, seems to fear the consequences of such an acquisition. In the complaint filed in San Francisco and brought by the United States Federal Trade Commission to block its attempt to buy Activision-Blizzard, some express concern about the possible domination of the Redmond company; and to add that such a transaction could limit competition and therefore reduce consumer choice.
