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Very curious to see what kind of hardware MS ends up releasing to support XCloud. Something for the phone seems obvious but might be hard to truly nail given the range of phones out there. Personally I'd love to see a 1080p Switch-shaped device that was just for local streaming plus XCloud at like $150 ($200 with LTE/5G?). Maybe running Windows Lite when you're not gaming so you can do web/media stuff with it too.
That raises the really interesting possibility - some sort of Surface device that has an XCloud mode or tie in, but which isn't primarily a gaming device at all.
No, just a random positive "new thread is fresh" GIF. But honestly I would love to have a play Viva Pinata! I was a little LTTP with the game as I played it as BC title on the Xbox One for the first time but it was really fun and relaxing.
Hey, everybody, and welcome to the fifth Xbox Studios OT, where we fight over thread titles because the OP is kind of a jackass about them! Not that that's wrong or anything---I agree!
No need to waste time on pleasantries. We all know why you're here.
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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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)
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- Gears of War 5
- Gears Pop!, in conjunction with Splash Damage
- 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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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
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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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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 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: Will be updated as more info is made known.
Studio Size: I hear this got updated, but I need the number.
Notable Releases:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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
- 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: Will be updated as more info is made known.
Studio Size: 100 employees
Notable Releases:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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)
- Will be updated as more info is made known.
<--------------------------------------------->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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- Will update as more info is made known.
- Will update as more info is made known.
<--------------------------------------------->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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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 France, 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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- Contrast (360, PS3, XB1, PS4, PC | 2013 | Metascore 59/62)
- We Happy Few (XB1, PS4, PC | 2018 | Metascore 65/68/62)
- Will update as more information becomes known
<--------------------------------------------->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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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)
- New IP: The Outer Worlds
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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:
Upcoming Projects and Rumors:
- 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 (PC | 2018 | Metascore 71) [NOLA Studio]
- Wasteland 3 [Newport Beach Studio]
- Bard's Tale IV (console port) [NOLA Studio]
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Other Studios/Teams:
Acquisitions, Studios and Otherwise (8th Gen):
- 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
Studios/Teams Shut Down or Spun Off (8th Gen):
- 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
Cancelled/Discontinued Titles (8th Gen):
- 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
2019 games so far:
- 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
- To be filled when such games exist
<--------------------------------------------->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 the Upcoming Partner Titles:
Title: Crackdown 3
Developer: ReAgent Games, Cloudgine, Sumo Digital, Ruffian Games
Release Date: February 15, 2019
Description:
Website: https://www.crackdown.com/
<--------------------------------------------->Title: Age of Empires IV
Developer: Relic Entertainment
Release Date: 2019
Description:
Website: https://www.ageofempires.com/games/age-of-empires-iv/
<--------------------------------------------->Current Partner Studios:
Miscellaneous & Important Information
Rumored Partners:
- 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
Cancelled Partner Collaborations:
- None so far
- Cancelled Obsidian RPG
- Cancelled Halo Mega Blocks game
- Phantom Dust reboot cancelled in 2015
- Scalebound cancelled in 2017
<--------------------------------------------->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.
Sooooo EPIC!!
XGS let's go!!
Starbreeze has sold its Indian subsidiary to Rockstar as its battle for survival continues.
The Swedish company behind the Payday franchise sold art outsourcing subsidiary Dhruva to Rockstar for $7.9m in a deal expected to close by the end of June 2019.
The next 12 months will be crucial for Starbreeze. In a recent financial note it admitted it "currently lacks sufficient secured funds to continue operating" for the coming year, and "a liquidity shortfall is expected before mid-year 2019 if no additional funds are provided".
"We are in a challenging situation," acting CEO Mikael Nermark said. "I stand united with the entire Starbreeze team in the efforts to get the business in order. We have a very strong asset in Payday, which is the foundation upon which we will build Starbreeze future."
EUROGAMER
The Swedish company behind the Payday franchise sold art outsourcing subsidiary Dhruva to Rockstar for $7.9m in a deal expected to close by the end of June 2019.
The next 12 months will be crucial for Starbreeze. In a recent financial note it admitted it "currently lacks sufficient secured funds to continue operating" for the coming year, and "a liquidity shortfall is expected before mid-year 2019 if no additional funds are provided".
"We are in a challenging situation," acting CEO Mikael Nermark said. "I stand united with the entire Starbreeze team in the efforts to get the business in order. We have a very strong asset in Payday, which is the foundation upon which we will build Starbreeze future."
EUROGAMER
Wow.. Also.. Rockstar is able to support studios worldwide, even as just a subsidiary of
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I'm pretty sure that Microsoft have offices, centres and divisions all over the world, Xbox will decide where they want invest their budget and if I was them I'd keep it as far away from Starbreeze as possible.
What matters to Microsoft is the amount of content that they can be able to put out each year. That is what matters as far as their investments go when it comes to new studios.
Unless they're acquiring Double Fine and they want the publishing rights to Psychonauts 2 they should stay well clear of Starbreeze, let THQ Nordic pick up whatever's left.
Oh no, this was not a request to salvage the rusting carnage of Starbreeze. But Rockstar and Ubisoft have actual development studios all over the world (i mean to varying success over the years, sure). I suppose the question is why this is the case, and are those competitive advantages not salient for Microsoft to take advantage of (like.. are the studios in the southeast there just to take advantage of cheap art labor in a skeezy way, for example)?
I'm sure Microsoft would be fine if they didn't acquire another studio for a while. And, I think it's a smart strategy to focus on where you have the strength and infrastructure to support new studios. But, the question remains: why can other publishers/studios do it when Xbox can't?
Why Microsoft need to follow them at all? is that a standard?
E3 Schedule
Oh yeah!
Nothing gets me pumped more than timetables in excel!
Like I said, I don't think they NEED to do anything. I have fewer thoughts on acquisitions than most in this thread. But, clearly, their choices to stick to areas where they are already well supported eliminates many talented and promising developers from the potential ranks.
Again, that may be a perfectly reasonable and appropriate tradeoff. I'm just asking why we think this is. MS and Xbox do have offices and infrastructure all over, but clearly don't think that expanding studios in that direction is wise.
Is it because they can't or because it's not worthwhile? I think it's an interesting question with implications for the future. Does the expansion of infrastructure in Asia portend bigger moves in that region? Or will the US west coast remain the development focus for Xbox? I'm happy either way :p but this is a first party thread. Where else can I ask these thoughts? Haha
On a side note something i posted in another thread:
I really hate how people still can't write Xbox and the short version of the console right.
It's Xbox NOT XBox or X-Box or X-box. Nobody writes PlayStation - it's just dumb
Also Xbox One is shortened XO or XBO and not XBone - makes no sense, nobody shortenes Playstation 4 to PLS4
Just seemes really fanboyish to me when people cant even right nearly 6 year old concole names right...
I really hate how people still can't write Xbox and the short version of the console right.
It's Xbox NOT XBox or X-Box or X-box. Nobody writes PlayStation - it's just dumb
Also Xbox One is shortened XO or XBO and not XBone - makes no sense, nobody shortenes Playstation 4 to PLS4
Just seemes really fanboyish to me when people cant even right nearly 6 year old concole names right...
Microsoft is getting to the point where they would be able to put out 6 or 7 games a year ranging from AA to AAA.
It might be great to see them gaining more development teams in Asia and mainland Europe, but that is not what they ought to be focused on; it is the quality of the developer and what they would be offering when it comes to Game Pass.
Microsoft is already in position to put out more games than any third party publisher going forward. They are going to be a publisher that will be among the few putting out as many games that are not dominated by the yearly franchises. Rockstar? They have one game this generation, they probably do one game next generation too. Microsoft on the other hand just added 7 developers to their roster and not only that, they are also letting these teams grow.
Generelly good - hoping for more saturation and stuff that "makes sense".
What is that red stuff? Why is the queen on there? Why is 50% just a ice texture?
Generelly good - hoping for more saturation and stuff that "makes sense".
What is that red stuff? Why is the queen on there? Why is 50% just a ice texture?
Blood of the enemy.....
If you have something to say say it to the whole class
Also why is this thread called "Xbox Studios"? They are the "Xbox Game Studios" - pls fix
Yes, thread title needs updated to be "Xbox Game Studios" as you said.
I continue to assume the red stuff resolves into an epic beard at some point. If not an unexpected Atriox crossover, I will be sorely disappointed.
Generelly good - hoping for more saturation and stuff that "makes sense".
What is that red stuff? Why is the queen on there? Why is 50% just a ice texture?
Just.. having a hard time figuring out where the eyes should be.
It's fake, fan made cover...
Generelly good - hoping for more saturation and stuff that "makes sense".
What is that red stuff? Why is the queen on there? Why is 50% just a ice texture?
nope, but myrrah appeared with the 2's dress, now she has simply 3's armor, on the left corner there's a normal enemy class, Marcus cut his beard since 4 and we already know two different setting aside the tundra
Just look at it. Ugly and amateurish. Just compare it to other Gears covers and you will see how this one is miles bellow in aesthetics and overall quality.
I don't think so, it just seems obvious. The 3D render of the face especially looks amateur, you can just log onto the front page of ArtStation on a given day and find much better work.
How did i forget Marcus beard - true it's probably fake
Intresting what Hmqgg posted last night in the old OT.
Exact same wording for Anaconda&Lockhart.
My issue with this comparison is this worked out this gen since the XBO was close enough to the PS4, creating a universal base spec for developers to target. Next gen though, the PS5 will be closer to anaconda, so it'll be interesting to see what, if any, limitations will pose on the next generation of games.
It's not "fake". It appeared on the official Taiwan age rating website. How would you "fake" that?
If anything, this is a temporary boxart. But I doubt it. Looks fine to me.
As someone said, Marcus' beard and Myrrah's dress don't match, if its real maybe it was outsourced lol.
Also, we've seen shots from kait's face with better rendering than the cover.
I dont hate and i dont love it, could be better. But why would Marcus have a long beard?
The E3 2018 Trailer showed him shaved.
Are we sure? http://www.gamerating.org.tw/search_game.php Searching it up now, we're back to the logo we saw at E3 and an unlisted date. I can't be sure if this is the official ratings board, but it looks official to me - the agency has the name consistent with other Taiwanese ministries. (I mean, I'm sure they fixed the leak by now if they messed up, but just asking). Eh. Whatever. It is what it is. I have no idea what I'm doing loll.
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