Xbox veteran who named Controller Duke after son’s death, Phil Spencer pays tribute

A longtime Microsoft employee has passed away and several Xbox veterans pay tribute to him. Brett Schepf has worked on notable Microsoft products such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Sidewinder Controller, and the launch of the original Xbox, to which he was a big contributor. The original Xbox controller was nicknamed “The Duke”, a name that came from Schepf’s son, who was very young at the time.

The Duke remains one of the most controversial controllers in video game history, with publishers at the time calling it too big and too bulky. That said, the Duke had his fans and many of us had at least one friend who insisted on using him for Halo. It was then relaunched in 2017 and remains available today.

“Brett was in the hardware group (mice and keys) when we came in and messed up his group and everyone with the idea for the console,” wrote Seamus Blackley, widely regarded as the father of the Xbox. “His easy smile, charm and relentless fire were the key. He was also terrified of ending his career!”

“Incredibly sad news. A loss for anyone who knew Brett,” wrote Phil spencer, the current manager of Xbox. “Thoughts are with his family. I remember Brett as someone who took on any challenge with energy, passion and a desire to do the right thing.”

Duke and Jack, Schepf’s sons, hosted a GoFundMe for his cremation costs and end of life celebration, with the rest of the money going to Jack’s college fund.