--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Onstage at Build, Phil Spencer said the…" description: "\"Onstage at Build, Phil Spencer said the Xbox is an open platform - which surprises me, because you have to get your game concept approved before you st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/tim-sweeney-5272_control_onstage-at-build-phil-spencer-said-the-x_1852873.png" --- # Onstage at Build, Phil Spencer said the Xbox is an open… ![“Onstage at Build, Phil Spencer said the Xbox is an open platform - which surprises me, because you have to get your game concept approved before you start developing it. Then you have to get every update approved. Microsoft has absolute control.” quote by Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/tim-sweeney-5272_control_onstage-at-build-phil-spencer-said-the-x_1852873.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/tim-sweeney-5272_control_onstage-at-build-phil-spencer-said-the-x_1852873.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/tim-sweeney-5272_control_onstage-at-build-phil-spencer-said-the-x_1852873.png) > “Onstage at Build, Phil Spencer said the Xbox is an open platform - which surprises me, because you have to get your game concept approved before you start developing it. Then you have to get every update approved. Microsoft has absolute control.” [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the paradox of Xbox being marketed as open while Microsoft tightly controls content approval, limiting true openness. **In simple terms:** Xbox is marketed as open but is heavily controlled by Microsoft. Key Takeaway Recognize the difference between marketing claims and actual control. Themes marketing control platforms gaming industry paradox Mood critical skeptical analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - Game developers - software updates - platform policy - industry analysis Key Concepts Open platform claim approval process corporate control Questions to Reflect On - How does corporate control affect creative freedom? - Can openness exist under strict approval? A Different Perspective The control may stifle innovation and limit indie developers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approved Microsoft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approved-microsoft-2443601/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Developing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Open Platform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-platform-389089/) [Platform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/platform/) [Said Xbox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-xbox-2443600/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) [Xbox Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/xbox-open-2443599/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [Windows is the platform of choice for gamers. It's the only choice for enterprise. If we want to have an open platform, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/windows-is-the-platform-of-choice-for-gamers-it-s-the-only-choice-for/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [Twitter was created as an open platform, an open communications ecosystem, and I hope it can stay that way. You have to be really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccue/twitter-was-created-as-an-open-platform-an-open-communications/) [Mike McCue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccue/) > [By allowing multiple partners to contribute, an open platform can nurture an entire ecosystem of developers and apps. Good products integrate and become great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/by-allowing-multiple-partners-to-contribute-an-open-platform-can/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [AR is going to play such an infinite role in our lives that we have to establish clear ground rules respecting everyone's rights. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/ar-is-going-to-play-such-an-infinite-role-in-our-lives-that-we-have/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [The Internet should be an open platform where you are free to go where you want and say and do what you want without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/the-internet-should-be-an-open-platform-where-you-are-free-to-go/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) > [“An open internet is an open platform for debating opposing views. It allows unpopular voices to be heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-lee/an-open-internet-is-an-open-platform-for-debating-opposing-views-it/) [Newton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newton-lee/) > [I believe that the internet as an open platform for distribution could be a great chance for the diversity of film production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnieszka-holland/i-believe-that-the-internet-as-an-open-platform-for-distribution/) [Agnieszka Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnieszka-holland/) > [Companies like YouTube will continue to be tested on their commitment to the mission that made them such popular and profitable websites - providing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/companies-like-youtube-will-continue-to-be-tested-on-their-commitment/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [I have no direct knowledge of this, but I suspect that Apple will launch a living room product that redefines people's expectations really strongly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-newell/i-have-no-direct-knowledge-of-this-but-i-suspect-that-apple-will/) [Gabe Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-newell/) > [“three platforms: Amazon, Google, and Facebook. 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I wanted to have an impact with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-chose-a-public-platform-to-come-out-i-wanted-to-have-an-impact-with/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [Everything for us is a system. We don't think about it discretely as just as a piece of hardware, or discretely as an application...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosain-rahman/everything-for-us-is-a-system-we-don-t-think-about-it-discretely-as/) [Hosain Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosain-rahman/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) ## More by Tim Sweeney > [We feel the game industry is changing in some major ways. 'Fortnite' is a harbinger of things to come. It's a massive number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/we-feel-the-game-industry-is-changing-in-some-major-ways-fortnite-is/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [That's the great things about games as social experiences. You play with all your friends across social groups. You see young girls as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/that-s-the-great-things-about-games-as-social-experiences-you-play/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [Epic's Support-A-Creator program was launched as a one-time event, but it's now permanent and is available to all creators and all developers on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/epic-s-support-a-creator-program-was-launched-as-a-one-time-event-but/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [Open platforms encourage innovation. Whenever you have a closed platform, a monopoly on commerce, and all these platform rules, it stifles innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/open-platforms-encourage-innovation-whenever-you-have-a-closed/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [I would play games long enough to discover what games were doing and how they were doing it. And then I'd spend the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/i-would-play-games-long-enough-to-discover-what-games-were-doing-and/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [Both multiplayer games and online forums have this property of virtual anonymity. Other people can't really see you; they don't really know who you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/both-multiplayer-games-and-online-forums-have-this-property-of/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [Once you have an augmented reality display, you don't need any other form of display. Your smart phone does not need a screen. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/once-you-have-an-augmented-reality-display-you-don-t-need-any-other/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [I think it's necessary for VR to start with an early adopter audience that's highly engaged, and I think that means gamers. They're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/i-think-it-s-necessary-for-vr-to-start-with-an-early-adopter-audience/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [I believe Microsoft has every right to operate a PC app store and to curate it how they choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/i-believe-microsoft-has-every-right-to-operate-a-pc-app-store-and-to/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [When gamers can play a game together with all of their friends, regardless of the devices they own, you have a much more compelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/when-gamers-can-play-a-game-together-with-all-of-their-friends/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [It turns out having a fast car is an excellent hobby when you're a workaholic because even when you don't have any free time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/it-turns-out-having-a-fast-car-is-an-excellent-hobby-when-you-re-a/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [Every application designed for 2D interfaces will be obsoleted by AR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/every-application-designed-for-2d-interfaces-will-be-obsoleted-by-ar/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [Ultimately, I'm an optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/ultimately-i-m-an-optimist/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [The great thing about VR is that the input is going to be so drastically better than mouse input or games with touch controls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/the-great-thing-about-vr-is-that-the-input-is-going-to-be-so/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) > [We all remember the tech bubble of the late '90s, but companies like Amazon survived. Wherever there's strong, enduring value, it can last through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sweeney/we-all-remember-the-tech-bubble-of-the-late-90s-but-companies-like/) [Tim Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) [Explore all 102 Tim Sweeney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sweeney/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) [Thomas Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-miller/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Onstage at Build, Phil Spencer said the Xbox is an open platform - which surprises me, because you have to get your game concept approved before you start developing it. Then you have to get every update approved. 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