Over the next few years, Microsoft intends to reach 3 billion players. For that, he relies on his Xbox Game Pass. He wants to offer the ultimate subscription, the one that convinces everyone. The American then needs to hit hard. He wants the best licenses and for that he has no choice. You have to buy studios. Or rather, publishers.
In 15 months, Microsoft has spent nearly 75 billion dollars to afford Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard. Its number of in-house studios has now doubled. There are about thirty of them and it is therefore time for us to take stock, to draw up the complete list.
It’s something we’ve already done with Sony earlier this month. We then added a small bio for each structure; there, for a matter of time, we will go straight to the point.
What is Xbox Game Studios?
It is the entity that manages all of Microsoft’s development studios. There are the so-called historical structures, and two publishing labels: Bethesda and Activision-Blizzard-King (ABK).
Like PlayStation, Xbox Game Studios is entitled to its small Marvel-style animated logo.
Note : at the time of this writing, ABK has not yet been acquired by Microsoft. The offer made was accepted, but now the American authorities must approve this acquisition. If all goes well, everything will be completed between summer 2022 and spring 2023.
The historical
Before buying publishers, Microsoft offered studios or built its own teams.
343 Industries – dedicated to the Halo license
- Founded in : 2007
- Last game : Halo Infinite
- next project : Nothing has been made official.
Compulsion Games
- Redeemed in : 2018
- Last Game : We Happy Few
- next project : Nothing has been made official.
Double Fine
- Redeemed in : 2019
- Last game : Psychonauts 2
- next project : Again, nothing official for the moment. However, we are moving towards a multiplayer game.
InXile
- Redeemed in : 2018
- Last game : Wasteland 3
- next project : Nothing official yet but it would be a new RPG.
Mojang – dedicated to the Minecraft license
- Redeemed in : 2014
- Last game : Minecraft Dungeons
- next project : Nothing official, apart from updates for Minecraft and Dungeons.
Ninja Theory
- Redeemed in : 2018
- Last game : Bleeding Edge
- Upcoming projects : Hellblade 2 and Projects Mara and Insight
Obsidian
- Redeemed in : 2018
- Last game : The Outer Worlds
- Upcoming projects : Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, Grounded and other projects it seems
Playground Games
- Redeemed in : 2018
- Last game : Forza Horizon 5
- Upcoming projects : Fable and probably Forza Horizon 6
Rare
- Redeemed in : 2002
- Last project : Sea Of Thieves
- Upcoming projects : Everwild and new licenses it seems
- Also known for : Banjo & Kazooie, Battletoads, Viva Pinata et Kameo
The Coalition – dedicated to the Gears Of War license
- Founded in : 2010
- Last game : Gears Of War 5 – Hivebusters
- next project : Nothing official but there could be a new license in the batch.
The Initiative
- Founded in : 2018
- next project : Perfect Dark
Turn 10 – dedicated to Forza Motorsport
- Founded in : 2001
- Last game : Forza Motorsport 7
- next project : Forza Motorsport… for this year?
Undead Labs
- Redeemed in : 2018
- Last game : State Of Decay 2
- next project : State Of Decay 3
World’s Edge – supervise la licence Age Of Empires
- Founded in : 2019
- Last game : Age Of Empires IV
- next project : Nothing has been announced
Bethesda
In September 2020, Microsoft announced the acquisition of Zenimax – Bethesda. Against 7.5 billion dollars, the American manufacturer offered itself prestigious studios, authors of some of the biggest licenses of the video game.
Alpha Dog
- Last game : Mighty DOOM (iOS / Android)
- next project : Probably a new mobile game.
Arkane Studios
- Last game : Deathloop
- Upcoming projects : Redfall and the Xbox port of Deathloop.
- Also known for : Prey and Dishonored
Bethesda Game Studios
- Last game : Fallout 76
- Upcoming projects : Starfield puis The Elder Scrolls VI
id Software
- Last game : DOOM Eternal
- next project : it is rumored that a reboot of Quake would be in the cards
- Also known for : RAGE
MachineGames
Roundhouse Studios – Ex-Human Head Studios
- Last game : Rune II
- next project : nothing official yet
- Also known for : the first Prey (2006) and its canceled sequel
Tango
- Last game : The Evil Within 2
- next project : Ghostwire Tokyo (PS5 temporary exclusive)
Zenimax Online
- Last game : The Elder Scrolls Online
- next project : Besides expansions for TES:O, a new MMO would be in the cards.
Activision-Blizzard-King
The acquisition of ABK is the most expensive ever in video games. The transaction is around 70 billion dollars, which is colossal. But it is the price to pay to afford both a giant of consoles, PC and mobile.
Activision Shangai Studio
- Oversees Call Of Duty Online, an F2P aimed at the Asian market
Beenox
- His last real project dates back to 2013 with The Amazing Spider-Man. Since then, he helps on Call Of Duty, Skylander, Tony Hawk, Crash Bandicoot…
Blizzard
- Latest games : World Of Warcraft Shadowlands, Blizzard Arcade Collection, Warcraft III : Reforged
- Upcoming projects : Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal, Overwatch 2, a new license…
- Also known for : Starcraft, HearthStone, Heroes Of The Storm, The Lost Vikings
Demonware
- Designs development tools and notably offers help on the Call Of Duty network code.
Digital Legends
- Spanish studio responsible for designing Call Of Duty video games on mobile. It collaborates with Beenox, Activision Shanghai and an internally created structure called Solid State.
High Moon
- For almost 10 years, High Moon has been giving a hand on most Call Of Duty.
- Also known for : Deadpool and Transformers games.
Infinite Warfare
- Last game : Call Of Duty Modern Warfare
- next project : Probably Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 with a release at the end of the year
King
- Last games: Crash Bandicoot On The Run
- Also known for : Candy Crush
Raven
- Currently dedicated to: Call Of Duty Warzone
- next project : Warzone 2 ?
- Also known for : Hexen et Soldier Of Fortune
Sledgehammer Games
- Last game : Call Of Duty Vanguard
- next project : Nothing official
Treyarch
- Last game : Call Of Duty Black Ops – Cold War
- next project : Probably a new Black Ops
Toys For Bob
- Last game : Crash Bandicoot 4 : It’s About Time
- next project : Nothing official even if the latest news, he also lends a hand on Call Of Duty.
- Also known for : Skylanders.
Vicarious Visions
- Last game : Diablo 2 Resurrected
- next project : Nothing official; VV transferred to Blizzard in January 2021
- Also known for : Ports of Guitar Hero, and remakes of Crash Bandicoot and Tony Hawk