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- Jan 28, 2011
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Tags: Brian Fargo; Carrie Patel; Chris Parker; Feargus Urquhart; inXile Entertainment; Josh Sawyer; Leonard Boyarsky; Megan Starks; Microsoft; Mikey Dowling; Obsidian Entertainment; Tim Cain
Sometimes rumors turn out to be true, and sometimes the truth turns out to be stranger than any rumor. Today at the X018 event in Mexico City, Microsoft announced their acquisition of both Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment. Both studios have released videos to explain the news to their fans, promising bigger budgets and creative freedom. I'll post them along with Microsoft's official newspost:
As part of our commitment to bringing a steady stream of new, exclusive games to our fans, I’m excited to announce Microsoft’s intent to acquire two new game development studios – Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment.
Obsidian Entertainment was founded in 2003 in Irvine, Calif. by industry veterans from Black Isle Studios, led by Feargus Urquhart. The studio quickly made a name for itself with the Xbox exclusive Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Over the last fifteen years, they have delivered genre-defining RPGs to players on both console and PC through titles including Fallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and Pillars of Eternity.
inXile Entertainment is a team of industry veterans with decades of PC and RPG expertise. Led by Interplay founder Brian Fargo, inXile’s two development teams in Newport Beach, Calif. and New Orleans excel at creating vast worlds for players to explore with titles such as Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera, Bard’s Tale IV and the upcoming Wasteland 3.
It was important for us to find studio partners who have strong creative visions, a mastery of their medium and are expert world-builders. Obsidian and inXile embody all of these qualities while also bringing expertise on the PC platform and a unique RPG focus to the table.
While they do share a common heritage, the two creative teams at Obsidian and inXile are very different. They will continue to operate autonomously with their unique talents, IP and expertise. As part of Microsoft Studios, Obsidian and inXile will have the support and freedom to fully realize their creative ambitions on both existing franchises and new RPG projects.
Together, the two new studios bolster Microsoft Studios to now include 13 distinct and diverse game development teams. We’re focused on implementing new Microsoft technologies, delivering content for new platforms and services like Xbox Game Pass, and creating exclusive games that turn players into loyal Xbox fans. We are committed to expanding the Microsoft Studios franchises players already love, and investing in new, exclusive content for every type of gamer.
It is a genuine pleasure to welcome Obsidian and inXile to the growing Microsoft Studios team and work with them to deliver bigger and more ambitious games for their fans. I’m excited to see the teams maximize their potential at Microsoft and can’t wait for what the future has in store.
I guess this is particularly good news for Wasteland 3, which will now have the budget to become a viable post-apocalyptic competitor to the Divinity: Original Sin series. What it means for Obsidian's still-unannounced game with Take-Two Interactive is still unclear. Perhaps that will be the division of labor going forward, with inXile continuing to develop niche titles while Obsidian returns to their big budget roots. Whatever happens, it's safe to say that the six and a half year era of crowdfunded "AA" RPGs is officially over. Who would have believed that Interplay would be reforged under the Microsoft umbrella? Maybe they should grab the Black Isle trademark from Herve Caen while they're at it.
Sometimes rumors turn out to be true, and sometimes the truth turns out to be stranger than any rumor. Today at the X018 event in Mexico City, Microsoft announced their acquisition of both Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment. Both studios have released videos to explain the news to their fans, promising bigger budgets and creative freedom. I'll post them along with Microsoft's official newspost:
As part of our commitment to bringing a steady stream of new, exclusive games to our fans, I’m excited to announce Microsoft’s intent to acquire two new game development studios – Obsidian Entertainment and inXile Entertainment.
Obsidian Entertainment was founded in 2003 in Irvine, Calif. by industry veterans from Black Isle Studios, led by Feargus Urquhart. The studio quickly made a name for itself with the Xbox exclusive Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Over the last fifteen years, they have delivered genre-defining RPGs to players on both console and PC through titles including Fallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and Pillars of Eternity.
inXile Entertainment is a team of industry veterans with decades of PC and RPG expertise. Led by Interplay founder Brian Fargo, inXile’s two development teams in Newport Beach, Calif. and New Orleans excel at creating vast worlds for players to explore with titles such as Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera, Bard’s Tale IV and the upcoming Wasteland 3.
It was important for us to find studio partners who have strong creative visions, a mastery of their medium and are expert world-builders. Obsidian and inXile embody all of these qualities while also bringing expertise on the PC platform and a unique RPG focus to the table.
While they do share a common heritage, the two creative teams at Obsidian and inXile are very different. They will continue to operate autonomously with their unique talents, IP and expertise. As part of Microsoft Studios, Obsidian and inXile will have the support and freedom to fully realize their creative ambitions on both existing franchises and new RPG projects.
Together, the two new studios bolster Microsoft Studios to now include 13 distinct and diverse game development teams. We’re focused on implementing new Microsoft technologies, delivering content for new platforms and services like Xbox Game Pass, and creating exclusive games that turn players into loyal Xbox fans. We are committed to expanding the Microsoft Studios franchises players already love, and investing in new, exclusive content for every type of gamer.
It is a genuine pleasure to welcome Obsidian and inXile to the growing Microsoft Studios team and work with them to deliver bigger and more ambitious games for their fans. I’m excited to see the teams maximize their potential at Microsoft and can’t wait for what the future has in store.
I guess this is particularly good news for Wasteland 3, which will now have the budget to become a viable post-apocalyptic competitor to the Divinity: Original Sin series. What it means for Obsidian's still-unannounced game with Take-Two Interactive is still unclear. Perhaps that will be the division of labor going forward, with inXile continuing to develop niche titles while Obsidian returns to their big budget roots. Whatever happens, it's safe to say that the six and a half year era of crowdfunded "AA" RPGs is officially over. Who would have believed that Interplay would be reforged under the Microsoft umbrella? Maybe they should grab the Black Isle trademark from Herve Caen while they're at it.
