Microsoft’s primary focus for this year as many could guess is to successfully launch the next-generation unit, Xbox Series X. While the COVID-19 pandemic is currently still effecting major nations across the globe halfway into 2020, it has been reassured more than once that fans can expect a 2020 release for the next iteration of Xbox this holiday season. However, the firm still has plenty of exterior motives aside from the new system.
Aside from the big budget releases aimed to sell units for the Xbox Series X, Microsoft is still in search for new studios to acquire. Previously, it was presumed through a slip up occurred where an employee at Microsoft unintentionally disclosed the firm has already acquired a new team, but that was later encouraged to be an accident on their behalf. But in a new interview with gamesindustry.biz, the company is in fact still looking.
Even more, Microsoft has no ambitions of slowing down just yet, says Xbox head Phil Spencer. Speaking with the outlet, Spencer elaborates that there is still plenty that can be done with the current network of first-party teams under Xbox Game Studios as more could be added to that list later on.
The first priority was making sure the studios had the things that they needed to build the best versions of their games. That means extending some of the timelines, and giving them more budgets. We have really strong support from Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, and Amy Hood, the CFO. And there’s been no signal at all that we should be slowing down, but just to go at a pace that is maintainable for us as a leadership team. We’re always out there talking to people. But it has to be the right opportunity.
Currently, the potential candidate to face acquisition happens to be publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. In a report from earlier this month, it was disclosed that Microsoft is looking to potentially purchase the company and acquire all the studios that makes up its internal teams. Those studios include Monolith Productions, Avalanche Software, and Rocksteady Studios.
Aside from the what if scenario circulating around Microsoft, the latest acquisition from the firm was during last E3 where it was revealed that Double Fine Productions will be added to Xbox Game Studios. In light of the news, Spencer later elaborated that despite Microsoft’s advancements on the development studio, the company does not intrude on development for upcoming projects. The firm reiterates on that statement in the current report as well.
What do you think could be the next team to be acquired by Microsoft?
Source: gamesindustry.biz
