Here 8 are video game studios that Microsoft now owns. The tech giant is expanding its reach in the world of gaming as the Xbox Game Studios family gets bigger each year.
The new acquisitions for Microsoft proved to be great especially for the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. With more studios working under the name of Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft aims to increase the number of games that are playable on Xbox consoles. Instead of developing massive AAA titles, the tech giant is buying studios alongside their sub-companies and of course, their titles. In recent years, Microsoft has bought more than 20 studios and merged them with XGS. These acquisitions do not only ensure a great future for Xbox consoles, but they also allow Xbox to provide games on Game Pass on their launch day.
Especially with the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Microsoft’s domain became bigger than ever. Alongside Bethesda‘s most popular IPs like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, many other titles will be exclusive to Xbox. The other subsidiaries of ZeniMax Media, such as id Software or Arkane Studios, also became a part of XGS. Here are other video game studios that Microsoft now owns.
1. Double Fine Productions
Another solid first-party developer of XGS, we know Double Fine Productions thanks to their amazing games like Psychonauts, Brutal Legend and Grim Fandango. Microsoft announced the acquisition in 2019 at E3. With Tim Schafer’s appearance on the stage, we knew that great games were on the horizon. And after Psychonauts 2 made its debut, we can now say that Microsoft’s opening its wallet proved great for gamers around the world.
2. Playground Games
Known for their Forza franchise, Playground Games was founded back in 2010 and became a part of Xbox Game Studios in 2018. The studio is now working on the new Fable set to release on Windows and Xbox Series X|S. Though there is no information regarding a release date.
3. Undead Labs
Undead Labs is another studio that Microsoft bought during its shopping spree in 2018. The subsidiary is known for its State of Decay series and it is currently focusing on the early stages of State of Decay 3.
4. Obsidian Entertainment
One of the best RPG makers in the world of gaming, Obsidian Games became a part of Microsoft when the tech giant bought it back in 2018. Obsidian Entertainment is the mind behind Pillars of Eternity, Fallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth and many more. After the debut of their most recent title, Grounded, the team is now focusing on the upcoming RPG game, Awoved. The new title is set in the world of Eora, where Pillars of Eternity games take place.
5. Rare
Rare is one of the oldest studios of the giant company. The video game studio was bought by Microsoft back in September 2002. It became a first-party developer for Xbox after being sold for $375 million. Rare is the developer of Sea of Thieves, the open-world pirate game.
6. Mojang
Microsoft bought Mojang back in 2014 for $2.5 billion dollars and added one of the most popular games of history, Minecraft, to its domain.
7. ZeniMax Media
The acquisition of ZeniMax Media cost Microsoft $7.5 billion dollars. The company became a part of Microsoft back on September 21, 2020.
- ZeniMax Online Studios
- MachineGames
- Roundhouse Studios
- Tango Gameworks
- Bethesda Softworks
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Austin
- Montreal
- Dallas
- Arkane Studios
- Arkane Studios Austin
- Alpha Dog Games
Here are the subsidiary companies of Xbox Game Studios: Though these are only some of them and Microsoft seems like it will keep its wallet open for some time.