Microsoft has acquired four game studios. Among the purchases are the authors of Hellblade
As part of the presentation at E3, Microsoft announced the doubling of the number of internal studios. She bought four previously independent companies, and also launched another subsidiary in Santa Monica.
Who did Microsoft buy?
Playground Games
The central acquisition of the Redmond giant is Playground Games. Consisting of more than 200 employees, the studio is based in the UK. They specialize in racing simulators. Its main and so far only franchise is Forza Horizon.
Forza Horizon 3Ninja Theory
The most striking and unexpected purchase is Ninja Theory. More recently, the studio tried to prove that it is possible to be independent and do AAA projects. She succeeded by releasing the warmly received by critics and players Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
Hellblade: Senua’s SacrificeUndead Labs
Despite the very restrained assessments of both the first and second State of Decay, the project successfully exploits the zombie theme. Sales of the last part reached two million in just two weeks. By buying its developers — Undead Labs — Microsoft declares its desire to develop this brand.
State of Decay 2Compulsion Games
The Canadian Compulsion Games has been keeping the We Happy Few story survival in early access for two years. And just a couple of months before its multiplatform release, Microsoft decides to acquire its authors, who had previously noted only the controversial Contrast platformer.
We Happy FewNew Studio
The name of the new studio launched in Santa Monica is The Initiative. What exactly she will do is not reported. But, given Microsoft’s desire to play on the same field with Sony, whose main exclusive is the Uncharted series, the announced desire to make games with a plot and the background of the head of the studio, it can be assumed that we are talking about a linear third—person story adventure.
The Initiative was led by Darrell Gallagher, who was responsible for the production of Rise of the Tomb Raider, the new Theft and Lara Croft Go. Prior to that, he curated all the art in the Tomb Raider trilogy of the mid-noughties.
Source: Microsoft
