OT, part 1
If Starfield doesn't include Skyrim I'm going to scream.
Xbox Game Studios
Founded in 2007, 343 Industries is Microsoft's home team for all things Halo—video games, movies, TV shows, comics, et cetera. Here's some info:
Noteworthy Persons: Bonnie Ross (General Manager), Frank O'Connor (Franchise Director)
Studio Size: ~750 employees
Notable Releases:
- Halo: Spartan Assault (XB1, Steam, Mobile | 2013 | Metascore 53/70/86)
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection (XB1, PC | 2014 | Metascore 85)
- Halo 4 (XB360 | 2012 | Metascore 87)
- Halo 5: Guardians (XB1 | 2015 | Metascore 84)
- Halo: Spartan Strike (Win10, Mobile | 2015 | Metascore 66)
- Halo 5: Forge (Win10 | 2016 | No Metascore)
- Halo Wars: Definitive Edition (XB1, Win10, Steam | 2017 | Metascore 81)
- Halo Wars 2 (XB1, Win10 | 2017 | Metascore 79)
- Halo Infinite, the future of Halo.
- Unknown project
Originally founded in 2010 as Zipline Studios, The Coalition went through two more rebrandings—the first as Microsoft Studios Vancouver, and the second as Black Tusk Studios—before becoming Microsoft's dedicated Gears of War studio after the acquisition of the IP in early 2014. Here's some info:
Noteworthy Persons: Will be updated pending more information.
Studio Size: ~350 employees
Notable Releases:
- Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (XB1, Win10 | 2015 | Metascore 82/73)
- Gears of War 4 (XB1, Win10 | 2016 | Metascore 84/86)
- Gears Pop! (Mobile | 2019 )
- Gears of War 5 (XB1, Win10 | 2019 | Metascore 85/82)
- Gears Tactics (XB1, PC | 2020 | Metascore 81)
- Gears 5: Hivebusters (XB1, PC | 2020 | Metascore 82)
- TBA
Founded in 2001, apparently due to a lack of simulation racing games present on the Original Xbox, Turn 10 rose to prominence as the Forza Motorsport franchise grew into the tentpole it is today, further expanding in 2012 with the Forza Horizon franchise, developed by Playground Games. Here's some info:
Noteworthy Persons: Alan Hartman (Studio Lead), Dan Greenawalt (Creative Director)
Studio Size: ~150 employees
Notable Releases:
- Forza Motorsport 5 (XB1 | 2013 | Metascore 79)
- Forza Horizon 2 (XB1 | Collab W/ Playground Games | 2014 | Metascore 86)
- Forza Motorsport 6 (XB1 | 2015 | Metascore 87)
- Forza Motorsport 6: Apex (Win10 | 2016 | No Metascore)
- Forza Horizon 3 (XB1, Win10 | Collab W/ Playground Games | 2016 | Metascore 91/86)
- Forza Motorsport 7 (XB1, Win10 | 2017 | Metascore 86/82)
- Forza Horizon 4 (XB1, Win10 | 2018 | Metascore 92/88)
- Forza Motorsport reboot
Founded in 1985 by the Stamper brothers, Rareware—as it was then called—focused almost exclusively on development for Nintendo systems, until Microsoft acquired the company in 2002 and shifted their focus to Xbox, changing their name to Rare in the process. Here's some info:
Noteworthy Persons: Craig Duncan (Studio Head), Gregg Mayles (Creative Director)
Studio Size: ~250 employees
Notable Releases:
- Kinect Sports Rivals (XB1 | 2014 | Metascore 60)
- Rare Replay (XB1 | 2015 | Metascore 84)
- Sea of Thieves (XB1, Win10 | 2018 | Metascore 68)
- Battletoads (XB1, PC | 2020 | Metascore 72/66)
- Rare working on two "extra IPs" other than Sea of Thieves
- Rare has turned into a "New IP factory"
- Everwild
Founded in 2009 by digital Japanese idol Hatsune Miku, Mojang Studios was built around and catered to the development of the modern gaming phenomenon Minecraft. The studio was later acquired by Microsoft in 2014, and still largely focuses on the management and development of the Minecraft IP. Here's some info:
Noteworthy Persons: Jens Bergensten (Lead Creative Designer), Lydia Winters (Brand Director)
Studio Size: ~600 employees
Notable Releases:
- Minecraft (360, PS3, Wii U, XB1, PS4, Switch, Win10, PC, Mobile | 2012-2017 | Metascore 88)
- Cobalt (XB1, PC | Collab w/ Oxeye Studios | 2016 | Metascore 66)
- Minecraft Earth (iOS, Android | 2019)
- Minecraft Dungeons (XB1, PS4, Switch, PC | 2020 | Metascore 75)
- TBA
Established in 2010 by a large group of former racing developers from some of the best studios in the industry, Playground Games pioneered the breakout hit spinoff franchise Forza Horizon, and continues to maintain that series into its fourth iteration, as well as focuses on other projects.
Noteworthy Persons: Gavin Raeburn (Studio Head), Trevor Williams (Studio Head), Ralph Fulton (Creative Director)
Studio Size: ~400 employees
Notable Releases:
- Forza Horizon (360 | 2012 | Metascore 85)
- Forza Horizon 2 (360, XB1 | 2014 | Metascore 86)
- Forza Horizon 3 (XB1, Win10 | 2016 | Metascore 91/86)
- Forza Horizon 4 (XB1, Win10 | 2018 | Metascore 92/88)
- Brand new Fable
- Third team being created, as per rumor (citation needed)
Originally founded in 2000 as Just Add Monsters, the studio was rebranded as Ninja Theory in 2004 during the development of Heavenly Sword. Comprised of action game experts and a storied history in gaming, Ninja Theory is one of the leaders of action-heavy games and setpiece design.
Noteworthy Persons: Nina Kristensen (Chief Development Director), Tameem Antoniades (Chief Creative Director), Wil Driver (CTO), Joe Nelson (Game Director)
Studio Size: ~140 employees
Notable Releases:
- Kung Fu Chaos (OGXB | 2003 | Metascore 68)
- Heavenly Sword (PS3 | 2007 | Metascore 79)
- Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (360, PS3, PC | 2010 | Metascore 80)
- DmC: Devil May Cry (360, PS3, PS4, XB1, PC | 2013 | Metascore 86)
- DmC: Devil May Cry Definitive Edition (XB1, PS4 | 2015 | Metascore 86)
- Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (XB1, PS4, PC | 2017 | Metascore 81)
- Star Wars: Vader Immortal Episode I (Oculus Quest, PC | 2019)
- Star Wars: Vader Immortal Episode II (Oculus Quest, PC | 2019)
- Star Wars: Vader Immortal Episode III (Oculus Quest, PC | 2019)
- Bleeding Edge (XB1, PC | 2020 | Metascore 66/62)
- Hellblade II: Senua's Saga (XB1, XSX, PC)
- Project Mara
- Project Insight
Founded in 2018, and headed up by Darrell Gallagher, The Initiative is a brand new studio operating out of Santa Monica, California, dedicated to working on brand new AAA games for Microsoft Studios.
Noteworthy Persons: Darrell Gallagher (Studio Head), Dan Staley, Christian Cantamessa, Brian Westergaard, Dan Neuburger, and Tom Shepard
Studio Size: ~75 employees
Notable Releases:
- Will update as more info is made known.
- Perfect Dark
Founded in 2009 by Jeff Strain, Undead Labs operated on a laser-guided focus on zombie-based games. Their first game, State of Decay (360), was a smash Xbox Live Arcade hit. Acquired in 2018, Undead Labs remains committed to bringing out the best in zombie-related games, and potentially other projects as well.
Noteworthy Persons: Jeff Strain (Studio Head)
Studio Size: ~100 employees
Notable Releases:
- State of Decay (360, PC | 2013 | Metascore 78)
- State of Decay 2 (XB1, Win10 | 2018 | Metascore 68)
- State of Decay 3
Founded in 2009 by Guillaume Provost in Montreal, Compulsion Games is comprised of various developers from Valve to Ubisoft, and focuses on story-driven games with weird twists.
Noteworthy Persons: Guillaume Provost (Studio Head)
Studio Size: ~70 employees
Notable Releases:
- Contrast (360, PS3, XB1, PS4, PC | 2013 | Metascore 59/62)
- We Happy Few (XB1, PS4, PC | 2018 | Metascore 65/68/62)
- Unannounced third person game
Founded in 2003 by ex-Black Isle employees, Obsidian Entertainment is one of the foremost Western RPG developers in today's industry, with a legacy that includes acclaimed titles such as Pillars of Eternity, Fallout: New Vegas, and South Park: The Stick of Truth. Acquired in November 2018, the studio remains committed to brand new WRPG games in both new IPs and old, and will undoubtedly pursue masterclass projects across many fields.
Noteworthy Persons: Feargus Urquhart (CEO), Chris Jones (CTO)
Studio Size: ~230 Employees
Notable Releases:
- Fallout: New Vegas (360, PS3, PC | 2010 | Metascore 84/82/84)
- South Park: The Stick of Truth (360, PS3, XB1, PS4, Switch, PC | 2014 | Metascore 82/85/85/85)
- Pillars of Eternity (PC | 2015 | Metascore 89),
- The Outer Worlds (XB1, PS4, PC, Switch | 2019 | Metascore 86/85/82/NA)
- Grounded (XB1, PC | 2020 | EARLY ACCESS)
- Josh Sawyer's Project Missouri
- Avowed, a new Skyrim-like RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe
- The Outer Worlds DLC
- Brandon Adler's Project ( https://twitter.com/badler07)
- Carrie Patel's Project (https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-patel-80003aa/)
- (NOTE: Both of the previous two links might be referring to the same project)
Founded in 2002 by former members of Interplay Productions, inXile Entertainment are the creators behind some of the best CRPGs in the industry, such as Wasteland 2 and Torment: Tides of Numenera. The studio is originally based in Newport Beach, California, however in November of 2015, inXile founded a second studio in New Orleans, where since now-former President Matt Findley has resided as Studio Lead.
Noteworthy Persons: Brian Fargo (Founder and based in Newport Beach, CA), Matt Findley (former president, NOLA Studio Head), George Ziets
Studio Size: ~105 Employees
Notable Releases:
- Wasteland 2 (XB1, PS4, Switch, PC | 2015 | Metascore 77/80/74/87)
- Torment: Tides of Numenera (XB1, PS4, PC | 2017 | Metascore 79/76/81)
- The Bards' Tale IV: Barrows Deep (PS4, XB1, PC, macOS, Linux | 2018 | Metascore 71)
- Wasteland 3 (XB1, PS4, PC, macOS, Linux | 2020 | Metascore 84/79/85)
- Wasteland: Remastered (XB1, PC)
- Unannounced AAA RPG
Founded in 2002 by former LucasArts developers led by Tim Schafer, Double Fine Productions is a studio functioning as a masterclass in unique, interesting games focusing on fun above all else, even though they're really freaking good at the other stuff, too. Among their repertoire are such titles as Psychonauts, Massive Chalice, and the much beloved Grim Fandango Remastered—itself a modern rendition of a project Tim Schafer created back in the LucasArts days.
Noteworthy Persons: Tim Schafer (Studio Head/Lead Developer)
Studio Size: ~73 Employees
Notable Releases:
- Psychonauts
- Brütal Legend
- Costume Quest
- The Cave
- Broken Age
- Grim Fandango Remastered
- Massive Chalice
- Psychonauts 2 (XB1, PS4, PC, macOS, Linux | 2020)
- Untitled online multiplayer game
Created by Microsoft in 2019, World's Edge is headed up by Shannon Loftis and is responsible for managing the Age of Empires franchise in a similar fashion to 343 Industries with Halo and The Coalition with Gears of War. Not much is yet known about the studio, but we'll surely find out in the months and years to come.
Noteworthy Persons: Shannon Loftis (Studio Head)
Studio Size: Unknown
Notable Releases:
- Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (PC | 2019)
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (PC | 2020)
- Age of Empires IV (202?), in conjunction with Relic Entertainment
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