Xbox Game Studios
Moby ID: 57
- Microsoft Studios (from 2011-06-06 to 2019-02-05)
- Microsoft Game Studios (from 2001 to 2011-06-06)
- Microsoft Games (from 2000-03 to 2001)
Overview edit · view history
The gaming label of the Microsoft Corporation was introduced in March 2000 for products developed in-house or as first-party software for the Xbox console and Microsoft Windows. The label is associated with numerous franchises such as Age of Empires, Halo, Forza Motorsport, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Minecraft and others.
In June 2011, during the E3 convention, the company announced that it would be "rebranding" the name to Microsoft Studios.
On 5 February 2019, the company rebranded again as Xbox Game Studios, as part of Microsoft's attempt to expand the Xbox brand beyond the console line.
On 21 September 2020, Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media and their subsidiaries, assigning them to the Xbox Game Studios label. On 13 October 2023, Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard after over a year of seeking approval from international institutions, but it not placed under Xbox Game Studios; instead, it was put alongside the label as part of the new Microsoft Gaming division.
Known subsidiaries
Names in italics used to be subsidiaries, but no longer are as they were closed or sold off.
- ACES Game Studio (acquired in 1995 - closed in 2009)
- Big Park (acquired in 2009 - unknown closure date)
- Bungie (acquired in 2000 - became independent in 2007)
- Carbonated Games
- The Coalition (founded in 2010 - formerly known as Zipline Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver, and Black Tusk Studios)
- Compulsion Games (acquired in 2018)
- Digital Anvil (acquired in 2000 - closed in 2006)
- Double Fine Productions (acquired in 2019)
- Ensemble Studios (acquired in 2001 - closed in 2009)
- FASA Studio (acquired in 1998 - closed in 2007)
- Good Science Studio (founded in 2009 - unknown closure date)
- Halo Studios (founded in 2007 - formerly known as 343 Industries)
- Hired Gun (known only to have been active around 2007)
- Indie Built (acquired in 1998 as Access Software - sold to Take-Two Interactive in 2004)
- The Initiative (founded in 2018)
- inXile Entertainment (acquired in 2018)
- Lift London (founded in 2012 - inactive since 2019)
- Lionhead Studios (acquired in 2006 - closed in 2016)
- Microsoft Game Studios Japan
- Mojang (acquired in 2014)
- Ninja Theory (acquired in 2018)
- Obsidian Entertainment (acquired in 2018)
- Playground Games (acquired in 2018)
- Press Play (acquired in 2012 - closed in 2016)
- Rare (acquired in 2002)
- Team Dakota
- Turn 10 Studios (founded in 2001)
- Twisted Pixel Games (acquired in 2011 - became independent in 2015)
- Undead Labs (acquired in 2018)
- WingNut Interactive (established in 2006 - sold to WingNut Films in 2009)
- World's Edge (established in 2019)
- ZeniMax Media (acquired in 2020)
- Alpha Dog Games (acquired in 2020 - closed in 2024)
- Arkane Studios (Lyon) (acquired in 2020)
- Arkane Studios (Austin) (acquired in 2020 - closed in 2024)
- Bethesda Game Studios (acquired in 2020)
- Bethesda Game Studios Austin (acquired in 2020)
- Bethesda Game Studios Dallas (acquired in 2020)
- Bethesda Game Studios Montréal (acquired in 2020)
- Bethesda Softworks (acquired in 2020)
- id Software (acquired in 2020)
- ZeniMax Germany (acquired in 2020)
- MachineGames (acquired in 2020)
- Roundhouse Studios (acquired in 2020 - closed in 2024, staff moved to ZeniMax Online Studios)
- Tango Gameworks (acquired in 2020 - closed in 2024)
- ZeniMax Asia
- ZeniMax Online Studios (acquired in 2020)
- ZeniMax Online Studios Hungary (acquired in 2022 as Nemesys Games)
Credited on 797 Games from 2001 to 2024
Displaying most recent · View all
Ara: History Untold (2024 on Windows, Windows Apps) |
Age of Mythology: Retold (2024 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox Series) |
Age of Mythology: Retold - Premium Edition (2024 on Xbox Series, Windows Apps, Windows) |
Age of Mythology: Retold - Premium Upgrade (2024 on Windows Apps, Xbox Series, Windows) |
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II (2024 on Windows, Xbox Series, Windows Apps) |
Forza Motorsport (2023 on Windows, Xbox Series, Windows Apps) |
Minecraft Legends (2023 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One...) |
Age of Empires II: Deluxe Definitive Edition Bundle (2023 on Xbox Series, Windows Apps, Xbox One) |
Pentiment (2022 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox One...) |
Age of Empires: 25th Anniversary Collection (2022 on Windows) |
As Dusk Falls (2022 on Windows, Windows Apps, PlayStation 4...) |
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - The Complete History (2022 on Windows, Windows Apps) |
Halo: Infinite - Multiplayer (2021 on Windows, Xbox Series, Xbox One...) |
Forza Horizon 5 (2021 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox One...) |
Age of Empires IV (2021 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox One...) |
Age of Empires IV (Digital Deluxe Edition) (2021 on Windows) |
Age of Empires: Anthology Bundle (2021 on Windows) |
Psychonauts 2 (2021 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One...) |
Minecraft Dungeons: Ultimate Edition (2021 on Xbox One, Windows Apps, Xbox Series) |
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021 on Xbox One, Xbox Series) |
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History +
- September 21, 2020
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Microsoft announced the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, including their subsidiaries: ZeniMax Online Studios, MachineGames, Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, id Software, Arkane Studios Lyon and Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios. These studios would operate under the Xbox Game Studios label.
- January 23, 2009
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The company confirms to close Aces Game Studio, its internal development studio responsible for the Microsoft Flight Simulator series. At the time, the team was working on Microsoft Train Simulator 2.
- May 2007
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The company establishes a European publishing arm in Reading (UK), headed up by Phil Spencer.
- April 6, 2006
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The company acquires developer Lionhead Studios Ltd.
- March 23, 2006
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The company launches the Xbox 360 console in Australia and New Zealand.
[ view all ]
Trivia +
Some working titles for the Xbox 360 console were Project Xenon, Xbox 2 and Xbox Next.
Related Web Sites +
-
Xbox Game Studios
official site -
Xbox Game Studios
Wikipedia article
Frequent Collaborators
Companies- 1,385 games with Microsoft Corporation
- 187 games with Krome Studios Pty Ltd.
- 166 games with Valve Corporation
- 73 games with Experis
- 52 games with Atari Holdings, Inc.
- 50 games with NBG EDV Handels- und Verlags GmbH
- 45 games with Epic Games Tools LLC
- 44 games with Microsoft S. de R.L. de C.V.
- 43 games with Volt Information Services, Inc.
- 40 games with Audiokinetic Inc.
- 153 games with Phil Spencer
- 110 games with Kevin Salcedo
- 93 games with Oliver Miyashita
- 93 games with Matthew Golz
- 82 games with Randy Pagulayan
- 82 games with Ken Lobb
- 77 games with John Dongelmans
- 76 games with Greg B. Jones
- 74 games with Josh Mulanax
- 73 games with Cherie D. Lutz
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