shinobi602
Member
Given that we'll be seeing the next Xbox 7 days from now, I wanted to delve back into the launches of the Xbox and Xbox 360 and kind of dissect the first party output we saw from them and put together a little database of what we know Microsoft's first party studios are working on now, as well as what unknowns we can expect or conjecture at the next Xbox's launch.
So, to start off, what did Microsoft bring to the table back in 2001? The OG Xbox was a brand new platform, and they had to be behind it 100% to give it momentum. This thread is specifically about first party studios and second party studios, so ignoring the other third party developers/publishers at the launches, we saw quite a bit.
Halo: Combat Evolved
Azurik: Rise of Perathia
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Project Gotham Racing
NFL Fever 2002
Fuzion Frenzy
Alright dudes, let's move on to the 360!
At launch we saw:
Kameo: Elements of Power
Perfect Dark Zero
Project Gotham Racing 3
There are again much more first-party studios that Microsoft currently has as well as "second parties". There would be way too many for me to list and many are pretty secretive where next to nothing is known about their projects. I'm going to go over some of the ones we do at least know something about:
Lionhead Studios
343 Industries
Turn 10 Studios
Epic Games
Twisted Pixel Games
Certain Affinity
Mistwalker
Playground Games
Remedy Entertainment
Crytek
Black Tusk Studios
Other Microsoft first party studios [Wikipedia]:
So, what do you guys think we'll see at launch? Or what do you think some of these studios are working on? Whatever it is, next Xbox is almost here, fuckin hype and speculations everywhere.
So, to start off, what did Microsoft bring to the table back in 2001? The OG Xbox was a brand new platform, and they had to be behind it 100% to give it momentum. This thread is specifically about first party studios and second party studios, so ignoring the other third party developers/publishers at the launches, we saw quite a bit.
Halo: Combat Evolved
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: FPS
What are they up to now?
Well, this doesn't really need to be touched upon but obviously Bungie is a third party developer now and thus will create multiplatform releases from here on out. So what we really need to be asking is what is 343 Industries up to? Well, they're knee deep in Halo 5 as we speak, but I wouldn't expect anything from them really at launch. There were rumors going around OXM and Game Informer that Halo 2 Anniversary is currently being worked on, but given that this year would make a 9 year anniversary, it would seem odd to release an HD remake this holiday.
Chance we'll see them at launch: Slim
Recent releases: Halo Reach, Halo 3: ODST, Halo 3
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Azurik: Rise of Perathia
Developer: Adrenium Games
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Action Adventure
What are they up to now?
Well, Adrenium games was absorbed by Amaze Entertainment, which itself was acquired by Foundation 9 in November 2006. Whatever team that worked on Azurik is probably long gone and disbanded by now. #sadface
Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee
Developer: Oddworld Inhabitants
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre:Platformer
What are they up to now?
As of today, they're mostly acting as a guiding force for developer Just Add Water, which has been busy remastering older Oddworld games. Their last actual game was Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath in 2005, and afterwards they began to work on another game in the Oddworld franchise called The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot. This has pretty much been put on hold, but in the summer of 2010, they did confirm that they were working on multiple Oddworld projects coming out across "multiple platforms". They're no longer an Xbox exclusive developer though. The next Xbox could theoretically be a possibility.
Chance we'll see them at launch: 50/50
Recent releases: Munch's Oddysee, Stranger's Wrath, Abe's Oddysee New N' Tasty!
Project Gotham Racing
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Racing
What are they up to now?
Sadly they were closed down in 2011, and its members found work in other studios, with some forming their own independent studios. One of these is called Lucid Games. The studio is comprised of around 40 developers, including senior staff from Bizarre Creations who worked on PGR titles throughout the years. In January of this year, they teased that "Something is opening in 2013" with an image of a blue road sign that read "Road opens 2013". This could be referencing Blur 2, a sequel to the last game they developed, or could refer to a potential Project Gotham Racing 5, given a conspicuous tease of a "mid-May announcement" from the studio, which means we could possibly see them at the next Xbox's reveal event.
Chance we'll see them (Lucid Games) at launch: 50/50
Recent releases: Project Gotham Racing 4, Project Gotham Racing 3
NFL Fever 2002
Developer: Microsoft Game Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Sports
What are they up to now?
This was actually one of the best sports titles of last gen, and sadly given that the only info I can find on the developer/publisher is that it was Microsoft Game Studios, there's no way to track down specifically what this department is doing at the moment.
Chance we'll see them at launch: ???
Fuzion Frenzy
Developer: Blitz Games
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Party
What are they up to now?
Given their most recent titles were games like Kumo Lumo and Puss in Boots, I wouldn't hold my breath for expecting anything from them at the next Xbox launch.
Chance we'll see them at launch: Slim
Alright dudes, let's move on to the 360!
At launch we saw:
Kameo: Elements of Power
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Action adventure
What are they up to now?
Let's break this down a little. In 2007, after Rare founders Chris and Tim Stamper left the studio to "pursue other opportunities", the developer underwent a restructuring. When they released Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts to favorable reviews but less than stellar sales, Microsoft to turn the whole shabang over on its head. In 2010, Mark Betteridge, who is now the Studio Manager said that "Kinect will be the main focus for Rare going forwards as it's a very rich canvas. This is just the beginning of an experience that will touch millions of people." Yayyyy. However, one interesting note that has some potential is that in October 2011, UK magazine Xbox World 360 had some info that Rare was prototyping a "mature launch title" for the next Xbox. This could be anything, Killer Instinct, Perfect Dark, Conker's Bad Fur Day sequel, etc. We'll see what happens.
Chance we'll see them at launch: Pretty good
Recent releases: Kinect Sports Seasons 1 & 2, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Viva Pinata
Perfect Dark Zero
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: FPS
What are they up to now?
See above
Chance we'll see them at launch: Pretty good
Recent releases: See above
Project Gotham Racing 3
Developer: Bizarre Creations
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Racing
What are they up to now?
See above
Chance we'll see them (Lucid Games) at launch: 50/50
Recent releases: See above
There are again much more first-party studios that Microsoft currently has as well as "second parties". There would be way too many for me to list and many are pretty secretive where next to nothing is known about their projects. I'm going to go over some of the ones we do at least know something about:
Lionhead Studios
What are they up to now?
We don't know exactly what Lionhead is currently working on, but we can narrow down some facts. From recent job listings, we see they're very interested in F2P, monetization methods, massively multiplayer, all of which could likely see development in Unreal Engine 4 (coincidentally their recent Fable: The Journey was done in Unreal Engine). This could be just them testing the waters or actually developing a game with these aspects. That most likely wasn't what you wanted to hear but...there it is.
Chance we'll see them at launch: 50/50
Recent releases: Fable: The Journey, Fable 3, Fable 2
343 Industries
What are they up to now?
Halo 5, that is all.
Chance we'll see them at launch: Not a chance
Recent releases: Halo 4
Turn 10 Studios
What are they up to now?
Well, we know a few things:
A)Turn 10 only acted as sort of an...overseer on last year's Forza Horizon. They weren't knee deep in its development, so they were working on something else.
B)The mainline Forza Motorsport games have always been on 2 year dev cycles like clockwork, with last one out in 2011.
C)They were one of the first developers to get those tasty Durango devkits
Chance we'll see them at launch? Almost guaranteed
Recent releases: Forza Motorsport 4, Forza Motorsport 3
Epic Games
What are they up to now?
Speaking only about their Microsoft relationship, there isn't a whole lot that we know. Could they be developing Gears of War 4? Sure, it's highly possible. In fact it could theoretically be the reason Cliffy left Epic. Microsoft might have contracted another Gears agreement with Epic to develop Gears games for the next 10 years or less and that was Cliff's last straw. Of course that could all be bullshit but hey, you know never know. Still, whatever core game they make for the next Xbox, it'll most likely be on Unreal Engine 4.
Chance we'll see them at launch: Slim
Recent releases: Gears of War: Judgement, Gears of War 3, Infinity Blade, Shadow Complex
Twisted Pixel Games
What are they up to now?
I love these guys. A lot of quirky titles come out of them and I'm really looking forward to seeing their output next gen. They're still working on Lococycle at the moment, but expect to see them on the next Xbox not long from now. With Lococycle coming out this year, it might not be a huge stretch to see the game re-released for the next Xbox come launch.
Chance we'll see them at launch: 50/50
Recent releases: Ms. Splosion Man, The Gunstringer, Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley
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Certain Affinity
What are they up to now?
So, first, who are these guys? The studio was formed back in 2006 by Max Hoberman (ex-Bungie) and a bunch of other industry vets including other Bungie employees. They've worked on quite a bit for Microsoft, including but not limited to Halo CE: Anniversary, L4D 360 port, and map packs for Halo Reach, COD: Black Ops, COD: World at War, and more. We don't know exactly what they're doing at the moment, but if someone were to ask me, I would honestly say a Halo 2 Anniversary remake is a good bet.
Chance we'll see them at launch: Slim
Recent releases: Halo CE: Anniversary
Mistwalker
What are they up to now?
I'll be honest, I tried to see what they could possibly be working and I couldn't find a damn thing. The last major core releases they had were The Last Story on the Wii (2011) and Lost Odyssey for the 360 (2007). The studios was founded by Sakaguchi (creator of Final Fantasy) with the financial backing of Microsoft, so I believe we will see something from them in the future for the next Xbox, the timing is unknown though.
Chance we'll see them at launch: Slim
Recent releases: The Last Story, Lost Odyssey
Playground Games
What are they up to now?
First off, this studio is a haven for quite a bit of talent. They formed back in 2009 with ex-devs from the likes of Codemasters, Bizarre Creations, Criterion Games, Ubisoft Reflections, Slightly Mad Studios, and Black Rock Studio. All world class developers. So what are they doing now? Well they're still making DLC for Forza Horizon, but honestly I expect they're also working on another project that's under wraps at the moment (most likely racing). Shhhh.
Chance we'll see them at launch: Slim
Recent releases: Forza Horizon
Remedy Entertainment
What are they up to now?
Their last major release was the American Nightmare DLC for Alan Wake, and they're currently hard at work on an "unannounced AAA project". With news that we will see what they're working on this year, and hints and teases that the project could be Alan Wake 2, and Remedy executives noting that Alan Wake 2 is a good prospect, we're in for a show for sure. The original Alan Wake underwent significant development time (upwards of 5 years), with hitches along the way. I would expect the kinks to have been worked out and the process for Alan Wake 2 a little easier for the team, so a launch title *could* be a possibility.
Chance we'll see them at launch: 50/50
Recent Releases: Alan Wake
Crytek
Black Tusk Studios
Other Microsoft first party studios [Wikipedia]:
So, what do you guys think we'll see at launch? Or what do you think some of these studios are working on? Whatever it is, next Xbox is almost here, fuckin hype and speculations everywhere.
