Microsoft acquires Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and others, and opens a new studio in California

[flyingjohn]

It is a win win for Microsoft.
Microsoft gets some "exclusive" games for xbox and if any of the new ip's sell well they own the copyright.
If the studios fail they still get to pick the best devs and fire the rest.

 

[CreamyBlood]

https://www.trueachievements.com/n3...ntertainment-reportedly-acquired-by-microsoft

Age of Empires Studio Relic Entertainment Reportedly Acquired by Microsoft
By Rebecca Smith, 3 hours ago

The next episode of Inside Xbox will be arriving on streaming services at the start of next month. While we don't know exactly when that will be, we do know that Age of Empires will be featuring in the episode because they have "some very exciting announcements" to make. While many believe that to be related to Age of Empires IV, or perhaps the Definitive Editions of Age of Empires II and Age of Empires III, one source known for his reliable Microsoft Studios leaks is hinting that the news will be another studio acquisition by Microsoft instead, and that Relic Entertainment will have joined the Microsoft Studios family.

Makes sense.

I thought Ensemble did all the Age games, what does Relic have to do with it? Ensemble was aquired by MS years ago and shutdown after Halo Wars, right?

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Yes, Ensemble is long dead. Relic is now making Age 4.

 

[CreamyBlood]

Okay. The headline was just confusing as I think of Ensemble Studios as the "Age of Empires Studio".

 

[911 Jumper]

And another one leaves an Xbox-owned studio...

Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades has left the studio

Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades has left the company.

On a recent visit to the Cambridge, UK-based studio for a Hellblade 2 preview, Polygon noted that there was no sign or mention of Antoniades, who was formerly the company’s chief creative director.

A spokesperson for Xbox, which owns the studio, later confirmed to the site that Antoniades was no longer with the developer.

While he worked on numerous games at Ninja Theory, Antoniades notably served as writer-director on Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, DmC: Devil May Cry and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.

He was involved in the early stages of Hellblade 2, but the game is now being led by three creative leads: environment art director Dan Attwell, visual effects director Mark Slater-Tunstill, and audio director David Garcia.

Microsoft and Ninja Theory announced Hellblade 2 alongside the Xbox Series X console in 2019.

Source: VGC

 

[deuxhero]

Wasn't he the one that made Donte such an obnoxious cunt and derided fans who hated it?

 

[911 Jumper]

Wasn't he the one that made Donte such an obnoxious cunt and derided fans who hated it?

If I recall correctly, he wanted to base Ninja Theory Dante's appearance on himself. He also wanted to make Dante gay to own the “homophobes”:

"Dante's not gay, but I wish he was" says Ninja Theory creative director Tameem Antoniades. "That would teach all those homophobes out there."

Source: Eurogaymer

 

[deuxhero]

The mystery is that he wasn't canned sooner.

 

[911 Jumper]

From February