Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki

We're looking to revitalize this wiki! For more information, click here.

READ MORE

Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki
Advertisement
Register
in: Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, CS1 errors: unsupported parameter, Pages containing cite templates with deprecated parameters,
and 17 more

Xbox Game Studios

Sign in to edit
Not to be confused with Xbox Entertainment Studios.

Xbox Game Studios
Formerly
  • Microsoft Games (2000–2001)
  • Microsoft Game Studios (2001–2011)
  • Microsoft Studios (2011–2019)
TypeDivision
IndustryVideo game industry
PredecessorMicrosoft Games Group
FoundedMarch 2000; 24 years ago (2000-03)
Headquarters
Redmond, Washington
,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Matt Booty
  • (corporate vice-president)
ProductsList
ParentMicrosoft
SubsidiariesSee § Subsidiaries
Websitexbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-studios

Xbox Game Studios, previously known as Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, and Microsoft Games, is a division of Microsoft based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, spun out from an internal Games Group, for the development and publishing of video games for Microsoft Windows. It has since expanded to include games and other interactive entertainment for the namesake Xbox platforms, Windows Mobile and other mobile platforms, and web-based portals. As the studio grew, it has acquired and relinquished ownership of several other studios, and is the parent organization of fifteen other studios.

History[]

As Microsoft Games and Microsoft Game Studios (2000–2011)[]

File:Microsoft Game Studios.svg

Microsoft Game Studios logo (2001–2011)

Prior to the formation of a dedicated game division, Microsoft had its own Games Group, and had already made some acquisitions for developers and titles. This included the acquisition of FASA Interactive in 1999 for its MechWarrior game series,[1] Access Software the same year for its Links series of golf games,[2][3] and Aces Game Studio, which worked on the Microsoft Flight Simulator games.[4] The Games Group had also established long-term publishing deals with developers like Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires, Age of Mythology),[5] and Digital Anvil (Starlancer).[6] Under Microsoft, FASA Interactive was renamed FASA Studio,[7][8] and Access Software became Salt Lake Games Studio.[9]

Microsoft transitioned the Games Group into a wholly separate division named Microsoft Games around March 2000, along with other consolidation of games-related projects within Microsoft. This came alongside the public announcement of the first Xbox console, with Microsoft Games to serve as a developer and publisher of titles for both Xbox and Microsoft Windows.[10] Robbie Bach, who held executive positions in Microsoft's entertainment divisions, was named senior vice-president while Ed Fries, a member of the former Games Group and instrumental for some of its acquisitions, was named as vice-president of the new division.[11][12] Shane Kim served as the division's general manager.[13] In 2001, the division was renamed Microsoft Game Studios (MGS).[14]

FASA Studio and Salt Lake Games Studio remained with Microsoft Games Studios.[7][8] Digital Anvil and Ensemble Studios were acquired by Microsoft in 2000 and 2001, respectively.[7][8] One of the first major studio acquisitions following the division's formation was Bungie in June 2000, in the midst of its development of Halo: Combat Evolved.[15] With the acquisition, Halo, which had been planned for release on personal computers, became a Microsoft-published title as well as a launch title for the Xbox on its release in 2001.[citation needed] Turn 10 Studios was established in 2001 for work on the Forza series of racing games.[16] In September 2002, Microsoft Games Studios acquired Rare, who had previously extensively developed for Nintendo platforms.[17] In 2003, Microsoft recognized that the EA Sports label was in a far stronger position to develop sports games for the Xbox console, and among realignment steps, laid off about 78 employees within Microsoft Game Studios that were developing sports games in-house, and sold Salt Lake Games Studio, now named Indie Games to Take-Two Interactive in 2004, where it became Indie Built.[18][19]

Peter Moore was named in 2003 as vice-president of Microsoft's Home and Entertainment Division, which included MGS, the Xbox division, and Microsoft's home hardware market, reporting to Bach.[20] In addition to pulling big publishers like Electronic Arts to the Xbox platform, Moore tried to push the Xbox in Japan by courting Japanese developers with support from MGS publishing. Such games included Phantom Dust and Blinx: The Time Sweeper.[21]

Around 2004, MGS established Carbonated Games as an internal studio for the development of casual games for Microsoft's web games portal MSN Games, on the chat client MSN Messenger, and on the Xbox Live platform.[22] Kim and Fries were instrumental for securing MGS' publishing deal with Lionhead Studios for their 2004 game Fable, which would serve as the first major role-playing game on the Xbox platform. Subsequently, in 2006, MGS acquired Lionhead Studios along with the Fable properties, as it sought to secure a Fable sequel for the upcoming Xbox 360.[23] MGS folded the staff of Digital Anvil into the larger studio in 2005, following the release of 2003's Brute Force, and closed down the studio entirely in 2006.[7][8] FASA Studio was closed three-and-a-half months after the May 2007 release of their last game, Shadowrun.[7][8]

In 2007, MGS announced the opening of a European office in Reading, England, headed by general manager Phil Spencer.[24] Moore opted to leave Microsoft in July 2007, as to move back to the San Francisco Bay area with his family and to rejoin Electronic Arts. Don Mattrick was named as his replacement as the new vice-president of the Xbox and Games Business, which included MGS.[25] Later in 2007, Bungie amenably split from MGS to become a privately held independent company, with MGS retaining the rights to the Halo property.[26] Bungie continued to develop two additional Halo games for MGS, Halo 3: ODST (2009) and Halo: Reach (2010).[27] Simultaneously, MGS founded 343 Industries as an internal studio to develop future Halo games without Bungie.[28]

In 2008, MGS disbanded Carbonated Games and announced the formation of internal studio Xbox Live Productions to develop "high-quality digital content" for Xbox Live Arcade.[29]

Microsoft as a whole announced layoffs of up to 5,000 jobs across all divisions in January 2009 due to slowing sales of personal computers as a result of the late-2000s financial crisis.[30] Within MGS, the studio had already planned to disband Ensemble Studios after the completion of Halo Wars in early 2009,[31] while the new layoffs led MSG to also disband Aces Game Studio.[4] Microsoft acquired Vancouver-based BigPark in May 2009, using the studio to develop some of the first games for the upcoming Kinect sensor for the Xbox 360.[32] Later in 2009, Phil Spencer was promoted to corporate vice-president of MGS, in order to replace the retiring Shane Kim.[33]

In 2010, MGS formed a mobile gaming studio, MGS Mobile Gaming, focused on developing gaming and entertainment multimedia for Windows Phone devices.[34] It also expanded Rare with a second studio in Digbeth, Birmingham.[35]

As Microsoft Studios (2011–2019)[]

File:Microsoft Studios logo.svg

Microsoft Studios logo (2011–2019)

The Splatters 03

The Splatters is an Xbox Live Arcade game that was developed by a third-party studio and published by Microsoft Studios in 2012.

By the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 in June 2011, Microsoft Game Studios was quietly renamed to Microsoft Studios.[36] Later in 2011, Microsoft Studios acquired Twisted Pixel Games.[37]

In 2012, Phil Harrison, the former Sony worldwide studios head, joined Microsoft as head of Microsoft Studios Europe and IEB.[38] Microsoft Studios acquired developer Press Play, known for developing Tentacles and Max & the Magic Marker.[39] They also announced a new development studio in London, England.[40] Later in 2012, Microsoft downsized Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver due to the cancellation of the Kinect family title Project Columbia and announced that the ongoing development of free-to-play title Microsoft Flight had been ceased due to portfolio evaluation.[41] The reduced Vancouver studios were renamed to Black Tusk Studios and tasked with making similar franchise-building title as Halo.[42][43]

In 2013, Microsoft established European studio Lift London, a studio that would create could-based games for tablets, mobiles and TVs.[44] Later, they created a new "Deep Tech" team inside its Developer and Platform Evangelism (DPE) unit; the new team is charged with working with top developers outside the company to build next-generation applications on top of Microsoft platforms.[45]

While Mattrick had overseen much of the development of Microsoft's next console, the Xbox One, he left in July 2013, prior to its release, to take over as CEO of Zynga.[46] Mattrick was succeeded by Julie Larson-Green, who was named the president of the Devices and Studios Engineering Group, following a realignment of Microsoft's divisions, overseeing both the Xbox hardware divisions and Microsoft Studios.[47] In early December 2011, Microsoft Studios created Microsoft Casual Games, a division to revamp its past casual games for Windows (like Windows Solitaire and MSN Games) using more up-to-date software delivery platforms.

Early 2014 saw additional intellectual property (IP) acquisitions by Microsoft Studios, including a publishing contract with Undead Labs for their game State of Decay,[48] the rights to the Gears of War series from Epic Games,[49] and the Rise of IP (Rise of Nations and Rise of Legends) from Big Huge Games.[50] Microsoft Studios assigned Gears of War to Black Tusk Studios, which was later rebranded in 2015 as The Coalition.[51]

Jason Holtman, who had been head of Microsoft Studios for about six months,[52] left the company in February 2014, with Phil Spencer replacing him.[53] In July 2014, it was announced that Xbox Entertainment Studios would be closed in the following months; the closure was completed by October 29.[54]

One of the most significant acquisitions made by Microsoft Studios was for Mojang, the developers behind Minecraft, in late 2014.[55] Microsoft spent US$2.5 billion to acquire the studio, and upon the deal's completion in November, the studio's key founding personnel, Markus Persson, Jakob Porsér and Carl Manneh, departed Mojang.[55] As a result, Persson became valued around US$1.3 billion.[56] Microsoft Studios committed to keeping Minecraft available across multiple platforms, including rival PlayStation consoles.[55]

On March 4, 2015, Microsoft announced that they were merging UK-based studios, Lift London and Soho Productions for further games development, with the amalgam continuing to operate under the Lift London name.[57] On March 7, Microsoft announced at the Game Developers Conference that HoloLens games were coming to Xbox One.[57] On March 9, Microsoft announced that Kudo Tsunoda's role was expanding and that he would be the new studio team leader for studios such as Press Play, Lift London and a new internal studio called Decisive Games. Decisive Games was previously mentioned in job postings, saying that they were hiring for work on a "beloved strategy game" for Xbox One and PC, but this is the first public acknowledgement of the team's existence as a first-party studio.[58]

Twisted Pixel and Microsoft Studios agreed to split in September 2015.[59]

Kudo Tsunoda left the Xbox division in November 2015 for the development of HoloLens and Microsoft Edge, and other projects that could improve means of human interaction, including voice and gesture. Tsunoda's role was filled by Hanno Lemke and Shannon Loftis.[60]

In March 2016, Microsoft canceled development of two major projects: Lionhead's Fable Legends and Press Play's Project Knoxville, shuttering both studios in the following months.[61][62] Around the same time, changes to Microsoft Studios' website indicated that further studios—BigPark, Good Science Studio, Leap Experience Pioneers (LXP), Function Studios and State of the Art (SOTA)—had been closed; Microsoft Studios clarified that all of the had been consolidated into other Microsoft Studios teams over the past several years.[63]<[64]

In September 2017, Spencer was promoted to the senior leadership team, gaining the title of "executive vice-president of gaming".[65] In January 2018, Matt Booty was promoted from leader in the Minecraft games business to corporate vice-president of Microsoft Studios.[66]

On June 10, 2018, during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2018, Microsoft announced the acquisitions of Ninja Theory, Playground Games, Undead Labs and Compulsion Games,[67] as well as the opening of a new studio in Santa Monica, California, entitled The Initiative, which would be led by the former Crystal Dynamics studio head Darrell Gallagher.[68] In November, Microsoft Studios announced further acquisitions with Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment.[69]

As Xbox Game Studios (2019–present)[]

The studio rebranded itself on February 5, 2019 as Xbox Game Studios, as to reflect Microsoft's intent to use the Xbox brand to support gaming across all the devices it supports.[70][71] At E3 2019, Xbox Game Studios announced it had acquired Double Fine,[72] and established a new internal studio dedicated to Age of Empires headed by Shannon Loftis, bringing their total studio count to fifteen.[73]

Subsidiaries[]

The following is a list of studios have are were formerly under Xbox Game Studios, along with games or series that they worked on with Microsoft as the publisher.

Current[]

As of June 2019, Xbox Game Studios consists of fifteen internal studios and their Xbox Global Publishing division.

Canada
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States
  • 343 Industries — Halo series
  • Double Fine
  • Internal Age of Empires studio
  • inXile Entertainment
  • Microsoft Casual Games — Solitaire, Mahjong, Minesweeper, Wordament
  • Obsidian Entertainment
  • The Initiative
  • Turn 10 Studios — Forza Motorsport series
  • Undead Labs — State of Decay series

Former[]

Sold or spun off
  • Access Software/Salt Lake Games Studio/Indie Games — Links series — Sold to Take-Two Interactive and renamed Indie Built
  • Bungie — Halo series — Became independent
  • Lift London — Removed from Microsoft's games business[74]
  • Twisted Pixel Games — The Gunstringer, LocoCycle, The Maw, 'Splosion Man series — Became independent
Closed or consolidated
  • Aces Game Studio — Microsoft Flight Simulator series — Closed
  • BigPark — Kinect Joy Ride, Joy Ride Turbo — Consolidated
  • Carbonated Games — Closed
  • Digital Anvil — Brute Force, Freelancer — Closed
  • Ensemble Studios — Age of Empires series, Age of Mythology series, Halo Wars — Closed
  • FASA Studio — MechWarrior series, Shadowrun, Crimson Skies series — Closed
  • Function Studios — Kinect and HoloLens games — Consolidated
  • Good Science Studio — Kinect Adventures, Kinect Fun Labs, Kinect Star Wars — Consolidated
  • Hired Gun — Halo 2 PC port — Closed[75]
  • Leap Experience Pioneers (LXP) — Kinect and HoloLens games — Consolidated
  • Lionhead Studios — Fable series, Black & White series — Closed
  • Microsoft Studios Victoria — Closed
  • Press Play — Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, Kalimba — Closed
  • State of the Art (SOTA) — Kinect and HoloLens games — Consolidated
  • Team Dakota — Project Spark — Consolidated
  • Xbox Entertainment Studios — Closed
  • Xbox Live Productions — Closed

Games published[]

Main article: List of Xbox Game Studios video games

References[]

  1. ↑ Morris, Chris (January 7, 1999). "Microsoft MechWarriors". CNN. Retrieved February 6, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  2. ↑ JB (April 19, 1999). "Microsoft Buys Access". IGN. Retrieved February 4, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  3. ↑ Rogers, Dan Lee (March 3, 2004). "The End Game: How Top Developers Sold Their Studios – Part One". Gamasutra. Retrieved February 4, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Remo, Chris (January 23, 2009). "Microsoft Makes Big Cuts At Flight Sim Studio". Gamasutra. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  5. ↑ Ramsey, Morgan (June 23, 2012). "Ensemble Studios: From Beginning to End, An Excerpt from Gamers at Work". Gamasutra. Retrieved February 6, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  6. ↑ "Microsoft Inks Deal With Newly Formed Digital Anvil" (Press release). Microsoft. February 19, 1997. https://news.microsoft.com/1997/02/19/microsoft-inks-deal-with-newly-formed-digital-anvil/. Retrieved February 6, 2019. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Ciolek, Todd (June 11, 2018). "E3 2018: Here's What Happened To Every Studio Microsoft Has Bought". IGN. {{cite web}}:
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 McElroy, Justin (September 15, 2014). "Microsoft's checkered history of gaming acquisitions, from Bungie to Minecraft". Polygon. {{cite web}}:
  9. ↑ Bevan, Mike (October 2013). ""See You on the Beach"". Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (120): 58–63. 
  10. ↑ "Xbox Brings "Future-Generation" Games to Life" (Press release). Microsoft. March 10, 2000. https://news.microsoft.com/2000/03/10/xbox-brings-future-generation-games-to-life/. Retrieved February 6, 2019. 
  11. ↑ "New Game: Head of Microsoft's Games Division Outlines Company's Strategy for PC and Console Games" (Press release). Microsoft. May 10, 2000. https://news.microsoft.com/2000/05/10/new-game-head-of-microsofts-games-division-outlines-companys-strategy-for-pc-and-console-games/. Retrieved February 6, 2019. 
  12. ↑ "Microsoft Promotes Fries to Vice President of Games Publishing" (Press release). Microsoft. May 10, 2000. https://news.microsoft.com/2000/05/10/microsoft-promotes-fries-to-vice-president-of-games-publishing/. Retrieved February 6, 2019. 
  13. ↑ Feldman, Curt (May 18, 2004). "Q&A: Microsoft Game Studios' GM Shane Kim". GameSpot. Retrieved February 6, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  14. ↑ Stevens, Colin (February 5, 2019). "Microsoft Studios Is Now Xbox Game Studios". IGN. {{cite web}}:
  15. ↑ "Microsoft/Bungie Interview". IGN. June 19, 2000. Retrieved February 6, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  16. ↑ Gitlin, Jonathan M. (October 31, 2014). "A trip to Turn 10, the Forza studio merging car culture with games". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 8, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  17. ↑ Boulding, Aaron (September 24, 2002). "Microsoft Buys Rare". IGN. Retrieved February 6, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  18. ↑ Feldman, Curt (December 16, 2004). "Take-Two helps Microsoft get out of sports game". GameSpot. Retrieved February 4, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  19. ↑ GamesIndustry International (December 17, 2004). "Microsoft sells off sports game studio to Take Two". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 4, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  20. ↑ "Microsoft Announces Appointment of Peter Moore As Corporate Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing". Microsoft. January 20, 2003. Retrieved February 6, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  21. ↑ Caron, Frank (July 18, 2007). "A retrospective on Peter: always wanting Moore". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 6, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  22. ↑ "Q&A: Joshua Howard, Carbonated Games". MCV. July 23, 2007. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  23. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (May 12, 2016). "Lionhead: The inside story". Eurogamer. Retrieved February 6, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  24. ↑ Jenkins, David. "New Microsoft Game Studios Office For Europe". Gamasutra. {{cite web}}:
  25. ↑ "Confirmed: Peter Moore leaving Microsoft, replaced by Don Mattrick". Destructoid. July 17, 2007. {{cite web}}:
  26. ↑ Romano, Benjamin (October 6, 2007). "Microsoft, "Halo" maker Bungie split". https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft-halo-maker-bungie-split/. 
  27. ↑ Nutt, Christian (July 24, 2009). "Reports: Halo: Reach Bungie's Last Halo Game, More". Gamasutra. {{cite web}}:
  28. ↑ Smith, Edward (2016). "Studio Profile: 343 Industries". Edge (Future Publishing) (300): 94–97. 
  29. ↑ Keiser, Joe (May 22, 2008). "Exclusive Interview: MS to Delist XBLA Titles". Next-Gen.biz. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2008. {{cite web}}: ; deadurl
  30. ↑ Vance, Ashlee (January 22, 2009). "Microsoft to cut 5,000 jobs in company's first major layoff". The New York Times. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  31. ↑ Martin, Matt (September 10, 2008). "Microsoft to close Ensemble Studios". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  32. ↑ "Microsoft to buy Vancouver-based game developer BigPark". CBC News. May 8, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  33. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (September 15, 2009). "Microsoft's Phil Spencer promoted, Shane Kim retiring". CNET. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  34. ↑ Crossley, Rob (August 12, 2010). "Microsoft Game Studios adds in-house mobile team". Develop. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  35. ↑ Mitchell, Richard (March 2, 2010). "Rare to build new studio in Birmingham, England". Engadget. {{cite web}}:
  36. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (June 6, 2011). "E3 2011: Halo 4 anchors Microsoft press conference". GameSpot. {{cite web}}:
  37. ↑ McElroy, Justin (October 12, 2011). "Microsoft buys indie developer Twisted Pixel". Engadget. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  38. ↑ Staff (March 13, 2012). "Harrison takes over MGS Europe, but not Molyneux's job". VG247. {{cite web}}:
  39. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (June 6, 2012). "Microsoft acquires Magic Marker dev Press Play". Shacknews. {{cite web}}:
  40. ↑ French, Michael (July 26, 2012). "Microsoft to open new Xbox studio in London". MCV. {{cite web}}:
  41. ↑ Kietzmann, Ludwig (July 25, 2012). "Report: Microsoft reduces staff at Vancouver studio, cans 'Project Columbia' for Kinect". Engadget. {{cite web}}:
  42. ↑ Parfitt, Ben (November 29, 2012). "Microsoft Vancouver renamed Black Tusk Studios, is working on new triple-A franchise". MCV. {{cite web}}:
  43. ↑ Hafer, T.J. (November 30, 2012). "Microsoft's new Black Tusk Studios, headed by ex-EA devs, looking to make the next Halo". PC Gamer. Retrieved October 12, 2016. {{cite web}}:
  44. ↑ "Microsoft announces Lift London, a new developer focused on cloud games for tablets, mobiles and TVs'". Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. {{cite web}}: ; deadurl
  45. ↑ "Microsoft Recruits for Deep Tech team'". {{cite web}}:
  46. ↑ Orland, Kyle (July 1, 2013). "Xbox President Don Mattrick leaving Microsoft to become Zynga CEO". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  47. ↑ Correia, Alexa Ray (July 11, 2013). "Julie Larson-Green to take over Xbox hardware division following Mattrick's departure". Polygon. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  48. ↑ "State of Decay sequels on Xbox One". {{cite web}}:
  49. ↑ Xbox Wire Staff (January 27, 2014). "Microsoft Studios acquires rights to Gears of War franchise". Xbox Wire. Retrieved February 12, 2014. {{cite web}}:
  50. ↑ "Microsoft bought the rights to "Rise of" IP". {{cite web}}:
  51. ↑ "Introducing The Coalition". Xbox Wire. June 3, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  52. ↑ "Microsoft's PC gaming chief leaves after just six months". {{cite web}}:
  53. ↑ "Phil Spencer named new boss of Xbox". {{cite web}}:
  54. ↑ Pitcher, Jenna (October 29, 2014). "Xbox Entertainment Studios Reportedly Shuttered as Heads Leave". IGN. {{cite web}}:
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 Cox, Alex (June 13, 2018). "The history of Minecraft". TechRadar. {{cite web}}:
  56. ↑ Hesseldahl, Arik (August 29, 2015). "Minecraft Billionaire Markus Persson Hates Being a Billionaire". Recode. {{cite web}}:
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 "Hololens games on Xbox one". The Verge. March 7, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  58. ↑ "Kudo Tsunoda Expands Role at Microsoft". Eurogamer. March 9, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  59. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (September 30, 2015). "Splosion Man studio Twisted Pixel no longer part of Microsoft". Polygon. Retrieved February 7, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  60. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (November 19, 2015). "Xbox's Kudo Tsunoda moves to new role at Microsoft". Polygon. Retrieved November 23, 2015. {{cite web}}:
  61. ↑ "Changes at Microsoft Studios, UK and Denmark". {{cite web}}:
  62. ↑ "Lionhead Studios shuts its doors today". Polygon. Retrieved March 29, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  63. ↑ Scammell, David (March 8, 2016). "Microsoft Studios site removes 5 more studios". VideoGamer. {{cite web}}:
  64. ↑ Hurley, Leon (March 8, 2016). "Lionhead might not be the only studio Microsoft canned: all the Kinect teams look dead". GamesRadar+. {{cite web}}:
  65. ↑ "Microsoft Xbox boss Phil Spencer just got a big promotion, and will now report directly to CEO Satya Nadella". businessinsider.com. Retrieved June 24, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  66. ↑ "Microsoft promoted its 'Minecraft' boss to be the new executive in charge of all Xbox game efforts". businessinsider.com. Retrieved June 24, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  67. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (June 10, 2018). "Microsoft buys Ninja Theory, Playground Games, more" (in en). Eurogamer.net. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-06-10-microsoft-buys-ninja-theory-playground-games-more. 
  68. ↑ Crecente, Brian (June 10, 2018). "Former Crystal Dynamics Head Opens Microsoft Game Studio the Initiative" (in en-US). Variety. https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/the-initiative-microsoft-games-1202837444/. 
  69. ↑ "Obsidian, inXile acquired by Microsoft Studios". Gamasutra. November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018. {{cite web}}:
  70. ↑ Frank, Allegra (February 5, 2019). "Microsoft Studios is now Xbox Game Studios". Polygon. Retrieved February 5, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  71. ↑ Chalk, Andy (February 5, 2019). "Xbox Game Studios rebranding signals big changes for Microsoft's focus on gaming". PC Gamer. Retrieved February 5, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  72. ↑ Jones, Ali (June 9, 2019). "Psychonauts developer Doublefine is now an Xbox Game Studio". PCGamesN. Retrieved June 9, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  73. ↑ Kerr, Chris (June 10, 2019). "Microsoft has quietly established a new Age of Empires studio". Gamasutra. Retrieved June 10, 2019. {{cite web}}:
  74. ↑ White, Lewis (January 3, 2019). "Microsoft's Lift London is not defunct; social media closed as focus is shifted away from games". MSPoweruser. {{cite web}}:
  75. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (January 17, 2013). "Halo 2 PC going offline next month". GameSpot. {{cite web}}:

External links[]

Xbox Game Studios
Franchises Age of Empires • Banjo-Kazooie • Battletoads • Blinx • Cobalt • Conker • Crackdown • Crimson Skies • Dishonored • Doom • The Elder Scrolls • The Evil Within • Fable • Fallout • Forza • Gears of War • Halo • Hexic • Hydro Thunder • Killer Instinct • Kinect Party • Kinect Sports • Lips • Microsoft Flight Simulator • Minecraft • Ori • Perfect Dark • Pillars of Eternity • Project Gotham Racing • Psychonauts • Quake • R.C. Pro-Am • Sabreman • Sea of Thieves • Shadowrun • State of Decay • The Bard's Tale • Viva Piñata • Wasteland • Wolfenstein • Zoo Tycoon
Subsidiaries 343 Industries • The Coalition • Compulsion Games • Double Fine • The Initiative • inXile Entertainment • Mojang Studios • Ninja Theory • Obsidian Entertainment • Playground Games • Rare • Turn 10 Studios • Undead Labs
ZeniMax Media Arkane Studios • Bethesda Softworks (Bethesda Game Studios (Austin • Dallas)) id Software • MachineGames • Tango Gameworks • ZeniMax Online Studios
Former
subsidiaries 		Aces Game Studio • BigPark • Bungie • Digital Anvil • Ensemble Studios • FASA Studio • Lift London • Lionhead Studios • Press Play • Twisted Pixel Games • Xbox Entertainment Studios
People Phil Spencer • Rod Fergusson • Brian Fargo • Larry Hryb • Bonnie Ross • Tim Schafer • Joseph Staten • Feargus Urquhart
Related List of Xbox Game Studios video games • MSN Games
Video game products by Microsoft
Xbox series Xbox Controller • Games (With HD support)
Xbox 360 Launch • Technical problems • System software • Applications • Controller • Accessories (HD DVD Player • Wireless Headset • Wireless Racing Wheel • Xbox Live Vision) • Games (With 3D support • Kinect • Backward-compatible • Downloadable • Arcade (Arcade Kinect) • Xbox Originals) • Kinect Fun Labs
Xbox One System software • Applications • Controller • Games (Best-selling • Kinect • Xbox One X Enhanced • Backward-compatible (Xbox • Xbox 360))
Others Kinect • Xbox app • Platinum Hits
Windows Games for Windows • DirectX • Games for Windows – Live (Games) • Games for Windows • Windows Games on Demand • Xbox on Windows • Microsoft SideWinder
Other platforms Xbox on Windows Phone • Zune games
Online services Xbox Live (Avatars • Games Store (Arcade • Indie Games • Xbox Game Pass) • Live Anywhere • Mixer • MSN Games • Game Room (Games) • Xbox Play Anywhere games • Games with Gold
Promotions OurColony • Official Xbox Magazine • Xbox Exhibition • "X" Show • Xbox Rewards • Summer of Arcade
Developer tools Xbox Development Kit • XNA • XNA Game Studio • PartnerNet • ID@Xbox
Page Template:Hlist/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "wikitext").
Major video game companies
Companies Current Activision Blizzard • Atari SA • Atlus • Bandai Namco Entertainment • Capcom • Electronic Arts • Epic Games • GungHo Online Entertainment • Koei Tecmo • Konami • Marvelous • NCsoft • NetEase • Nexon • Nintendo • Nippon Ichi Software • Sega • SNK (2001–present) • Sony Interactive Entertainment • Square Enix • Taito • Take-Two Interactive • Tencent • THQ Nordic • Ubisoft • Valve Corporation • ZeniMax Media
Defunct Acclaim Entertainment • ADK • Aicom • Atari, Inc. • Data East • Hudson Soft • Irem Corporation • Midway Games • Nazca Corporation • Noise Factory • Quest Corporation • SNK (1978–2001) • Technōs Japan • Telltale Games • THQ
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
Advertisement