Xbox Game Studios

Overview

Microsoft Studios, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp., develops and publishes games for Microsoft consoles and PC. In September 2009, Phil Spencer took over for the retiring Shane Kim as the Corporate Vice President.

The moniker Microsoft Game Studios was introduced in 2002 and lasted until Microsoft unveiled its re-branding as Microsoft Studios at E3 2011. The subsidiary had also been known as Microsoft Game Division and Microsoft Games before 2002.

In addition to publishing games from internal studios, Microsoft Studios often partners with prominent third-party developers, such as Epic, Bioware and Remedy, to publish their IPs exclusively for Microsoft-supported systems.

Current in-house developers are:

• Rare (Banjo-Kazooie series, Viva Piñata series, Kinect Sports; acquired in 2002)
• Turn 10 (Forza Motorsport series; established in 2001)
• 343 Industries (Halo 4, Halo Waypoint; established in 2007)
• Kids and Lifestyle Entertainment (Xbox Fitness)
• The Coalition (Gears of War 4; established in 2012 as Black Tusk Studios)
• Connected Experiences (Non-game development)
• Mojang AB (Minecraft; acquired in 2014)
• Compulsion Games (acquired in 2018)
• Ninja Theory (acquired in 2018)
• Playground Games (acquired in 2018)
• Undead Labs (acquired in 2018)
• The Initiative (acquired and established in 2018)
• InXile Entertainment, Inc. (acquired in 2018)
• Obsidian Entertainment (acquired 2018)
• Double Fine Productions, Inc. (acquired 2019)
• World's Edge (Age of Empires franchise; established in 2019)

Former members include:

• Bungie Studios (Halo series) Acquired in 2001; became independent in 2007.
• Carbonated Games (Hexic series, Aegis Wing, Fable II Pub Games, various MSN games) Established in 2004; closed in 2008.
• Digital Anvil (Freelancer, StarLancer, Brute Force) Acquired in 2000; closed in 2006.
• Indie Built (Amped series; Links series) Acquired in 1999 as Access Software; sold to Take 2 in 2004, who shuttered the studio in 2006.
• FASA Studio (Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge; Shadowrun) Acquired in 1999; closed in 2007.
• Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires series; Halo Wars) Closed in 2009.
• Massive, Inc. An in-game advertising firm; not to be confused with the Ubisoft-owned Massive Entertainment. Closed in 2010.
• Microsoft Studios Victoria Established in 2012; closed in 2013
• ACES Game Studio (Microsoft Flight Simulator series) Closed in 2009.
• Twisted Pixel Games (Splosion Man series, The Gunstringer) Acquired in 2011; became independent in 2015.
• Soho Productions (Kinect Sesame Street TV) Established in 2008; merged into Lift London in 2015)
• Lionhead Studios (Fable series, Black & White series) Acquired in 2006; closed in 2016.
• Good Science (Kinect Adventures, Kinect Fun Labs) Established in 2009 as Spawnpoint Studios; dissolved and consolidated into other internal teams in 2016)
• Leap Experience Pioneers Established in 2014; dissolved and consolidate into other internal teams in 2016.
• BigPark Inc. (Kinect Joy Ride) Acquired in 2009; dissolved and consolidated into other internal teams in 2016.
• Team Dakota (Project Spark) Dissolved and consolidated into other internal teams in 2016.
• Lift London Established in 2013; no longer a game studio