The Initiative Showcases Their Santa Monica Studio In A New Video

It is pretty evident already that Microsoft is expanding their first-party studios with the list of studios acquired for the then Microsoft Studios throughout the course of 2018. And even founding a new developer which is comprised of industry veterans based in their new Santa Monica studio, The Initiative.

But for what the new studio looks like or what they have under their sleeve for their first has yet to been discussed by either Microsoft or the newly founded studio. Recently, the studio’s YouTube channel uploaded a video showcasing their new studio and detailing their excitement for the opportunity they have to work at the new developer.

With well-known faces like Darrell Gallagher, Drew Murray, Brian Westergaard, Blake Fischer, and Annie Lohr, they share their insight on how The Initiative will stand out from other developers based on their location, size of studio, and combined minds to create new projects under Microsoft.

“One of the interesting parts about doing a startup under Microsoft’s umbrella is it let us take a lot more risks,” Technical Director William Archbell shares. “Everyone I talked to here really knows what they’re doing, they’ve shipped a ton of stuff, and that they’re willing to bring that experience to let us do something new and innovative.”

Looking at the studio as they begin taking off for the first title, they are aware at how high the bar for expectations are coming from a studio made up of many with prior history in the industry. And that they are eager to bring a fresh and unique experience to the table when the time comes to release the game.

Currently there is now word on what the studio has planned for their first project, but we will see what’s to come as time moves closer to E3 this June. With our best bet, we might get a teaser for their first game at the Microsoft Press Conference held in Los Angeles before the 3-day event.

Last month, Microsoft announced that the cluster of studio, including The Initiative, will be renamed from Microsoft Studios to Xbox Game Studios.