Spencer disappointed by closure of Mixer, but has "no regrets" about the streaming service

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has said he has "no regrets" about Microsoft dipping its toes into the streaming business, despite Mixer not taking off like rivals YouTube and Twitch.

Speaking in an interview with GI.biz, Xbox head Phil Spencer said the closure of Mixer was disappointing but he had no regrets regarding Microsoft's decision to create its own streaming service.

"It's obviously a disappointment when you try to grow something to the scale it needs to get to and you don't get there," Spencer said.

"I don't have regrets. You make decisions with the best information you have at the time, you apply your best effort, and we're in a creative industry. We are in a hits-driven industry. And if we get into this space that we get afraid of disappointment that we won't achieve what we're trying to achieve as an organisation... I think it's fundamental to us that we're not afraid of trying things that might not work. And that is just the art of making video games, and frankly game platforms."

Microsoft's foray into the streaming business started four years ago when it announced plans to integrate Beam, the interactive livestreaming service it acquired in August 2016, into Xbox One and Windows 10. The following year, it was integrated via an Xbox One update.

The company announced in June it was shutting Mixer down and partnering with Facebook Gaming. This move would allow recent Mixer stars Ninja and Shroud out of their contracts and allow them to return to Twitch or another streaming service such as YouTube.