Welcome, everyone, to the seventh Xbox Studios OT, where the only awards we need are the ones for the hottest takes and edgiest quips.
Y'all know what this is. No need to waste any more time now.
First Party 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: 500 employees
Notable Releases:
- Halo: Spartan Assault (XB1, Steam, Mobile | 2013 | Metascore 53/70/86)
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection (XB1 | 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.
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection PC version (in conjunction with Ruffian and Splash Damage)
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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: Rod Fergusson (Studio Head)
Studio Size: ~300 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)
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- Gears Tactics
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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: 100 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 8
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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: 200 employees
Notable Releases:
- Kinect Sports Rivals (XB1 | 2014 | Metascore 60)
- Rare Replay (XB1 | 2015 | Metascore 84)
- Sea of Thieves (XB1, Win10 | 2018 | Metascore 68)
- Rare working on two "extra IPs" other than Sea of Thieves
- Rare has turned into a "New IP factory"
- Partnership with Dlala Studios to create Battletoads
- Everwild
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Founded in 2009 by game developer Markus Persson, Mojang 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: 70 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
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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: ~240 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)
- Unannounced open-world RPG, created at their new St. Alban House studio
- Third team being created, as per rumor (citation needed)
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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), currently in tech alpha
- Hellblade II: Senua's Saga (XB1, XSX, PC)
- Project Mara
- Project Insight
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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: Will be updated as more info is made known.
Notable Releases:
- Will update as more info is made known.
- Will update as more info is made known.
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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: 75 employees
Notable Releases:
- State of Decay (360, PC | 2013 | Metascore 78)
- State of Decay 2 (XB1, Win10 | 2018 | Metascore 68)
- State of Decay 3
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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: 40 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
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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: ~190 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)
- New IP: Grounded
- Josh Sawyer's Project Missouri
- The Outer Worlds DLC
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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: ~80 Employees
Notable Releases:
- Wasteland 2 (XB1, PS4, Switch, PC | 2015 | Metascore 77/80/74/87) [Newport Beach Studio]
- Torment: Tides of Numenera (XB1, PS4, PC | 2017 | Metascore 79/76/81) [Newport Beach Studio]
- The Bards' Tale IV: Barrows Deep (PS4, XB1, PC, macOS, Linux | 2018 | Metascore 71) [NOLA Studio]
- Wasteland 3 [Newport Beach Studio]
- Wasteland: Remastered (XB1, PC)
- Unannounced AAA RPG
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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
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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 IV (2019), in conjunction with Relic Entertainment
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Other Studios/Teams:
- ID@Xbox, publishing support and pilot program for independent game developers
- Microsoft Studios Global Publishing, handles Microsoft Studio publishing between first party and partner studios
- Mixer, streaming service
- Backwards Compatibility Team, handles Xbox One BackCompat
- Microsoft Foundry, intern program
- Mixed Reality Team, works on AR/VR content for Xbox and Windows 10
- Microsoft Casual Games, works on the casual games collection for Microsoft, including MS Solitaire, Wordament, and MS Mahjong
- Xbox Growth Team
- Xbox Game Pass
- Project xCloud
- Mojang acquired with the purchase of Minecraft in 2014
- Havok acquired in 2015
- Beam (later Mixer) acquired in 2016
- Simplygon acquired in 2017
- PlayFab, acquired in 2018
- Playground Games, acquired in 2018
- Undead Labs, acquired in 2018
- Ninja Theory, acquired in 2018
- Compulsion Games, acquired in 2018
- Obsidian Entertainment, acquired in 2018
- inXile Entertainment, acquired in 2018
- Double Fine Productions, acquired in 2019
- Twisted Pixel (The Maw, Splosion Man), left in 2015
- Press Play (Max and the Curse of Brotherhood, Kalimba), closed in 2016
- Lionhead Studios (The Fable Franchise), closed in 2016
- Team Dakota (Project Spark), disbanded in 2016
- Xbox Fitness Team, disbanded in 2016
- Decisive Games, disbanded before public outing in 2016
- Black Tusk's new IP, cancelled to shift focus onto Gears of War and subsequent titles
- Project Spark, servers closed in 2015
- Fable Legends, cancelled with Lionhead's closing in 2016
- Project Knoxville, cancelled with Press Play's closing in 2016
- Xbox Fitness, servers closed June 2017
- Crackdown 3 (XB1, PC | 2019 | Metascore 60/54)
- Gears of War 5 (XB1, PC | 2019 | Metascore 85/82)
- The Outer Worlds (XB1, PS4, PC, Switch | 2019 | Metascore 86/85/82/NA)
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Below we have information regarding upcoming titles created by partner studios, as well as any other relevant material not mentioned previously. Don't fret. This section will get a MAJOR rework in the days and weeks to come.
We begin with upcoming partner titles:
Developer: Moon Studios
Release Date: 2020
Description:
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Developer: DONTNOD Entertainment
Release Date: 2020
Description:
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Developer: Asobo Studios
Release Date: March 2020
Description:
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Developer: Smilegate
Release Date: 2020
Description:
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Miscellaneous & Important Information
Current Partner Studios:
- 4J Studios, original console versions of Minecraft
- Armature, ReCore DLC/updates
- Beep Industries, VooDoo Vince Remastered
- Certain Affinity, assistance on Halo projects
- Cloudgine, Crackdown 3
- Flaming Foul Studios, Fable Fortune
- Forgotten Empires, Age of Empires 1: Definitive Edition, Age of Empires 2 & 3: Definitive Editions
- Iron Galaxy Studios, Killer Instinct new characters/updates
- Moon Studios, Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- ReAgent Games, Crackdown 3
- Relic Entertainment, Age of Empire 4
- Saber Interactive, assistance on Halo projects
- Skybox Labs, Age of Empires DLC, Halo 5: Forge updates
- Smoking Gun Interactive, Age of Empires: Castle Siege
- Splash Damage, assistance on Gears of War 4 DLC
- StudioMDHR, Cuphead
- Electric Square, Miami Street (renamed to Forza Street)
- Sumo Digital, Crackdown 3
- DONTNOD, Tell Me Why
- None so far
- Cancelled Obsidian RPG
- Cancelled Halo Mega Blocks game
- Phantom Dust reboot cancelled in 2015
- Scalebound cancelled in 2017
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To reiterate, this post will be updated whenever new information is revealed or things need to be adjusted to reflect the current outlook as per the facts. If you have any suggestions, or believe I've left something out, please ping me in the Discord or send me a message here on Era and I'll address any issues as soon as I can.
Credit for the headers goes to Klobrille.
IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE XBOXERA DISCORD, PLEASE PM ME ON ERA. I'll try and get you in as soon as I can.
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