Microsoft will close its Xbox Entertainment Studios division

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Microsoft has announced it will close its Xbox Entertainment Studios in the coming months, according to an internal memo sent to employees by Xbox boss Phil Spencer.

In the memo obtained by The Verge, Spencer stated Microsoft as a platform company is a “mobile-first and cloud-first world” and that “games are the single biggest digital life category in a mobile-first world.”

“For Xbox to be successful, we must remain committed to being a consumer-driven organization with the mission of meeting the high expectations of a passionate fan base, to create the best games and to drive technical innovation,” he wrote.

“As part of the planned reduction to our overall workforce announced today and in light of our organization’s mission, we plan to streamline a handful of portfolio and engineering development efforts across Xbox. One such plan is that, in the coming months, we expect to close Xbox Entertainment Studios.”

Spencer goes on to commend the division’s employees for accomplishments made while building an “impressive slate of original programming” and that heads of the XES team “remain committed to new, original programming already in production.”

The shows still planned include the documentary series ‘Signal to Noise’, ‘Halo: Nightfall,’ and the ‘Halo’ Television series. Support will continue for NFL on Xbox.

Earlier today, a Variety report stated that due to Microsoft’s restructuring plans, the firm was reconsidering original TV programming for Xbox systems.

The report stated industry insiders were aware of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella taking a “hard look” at various operations while “questioning the plan to produce” original series for the consoles.

Back in April, Microsoft said there were “a dozen” original TV programming projects in the works for Xbox One and Xbox 360.

The company’s first major project, a live-action Halo series, as noted above, is safe due to an airing agreement with Showtime. The show will also be shown on Xbox One, and is in development with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin TV.

Other original content planned or alluded to during an April Microsoft TV event were: Gears of War, Fable, State of Decay, Forza Motorsport, Age of Empires, Deadlands, Extraordinary Believers, Fearless, Gun Machine, an Untitled JASH Comedy/Variety Half Hour from Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Tim and Eric and Reggie Watts, and finally a live-action adaptation of graphic novel series Winterworld.



Posted:
Related Forum: Xbox Forum

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2014/07/17/xbox-original-tv-programming-xbox-one-xbox-360/

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"Microsoft will close its Xbox Entertainment Studios division" :: Login/Create an Account :: 18 comments

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KixaPosted:

Heir This is so stupid, would have loved to see some of those shows.


I never seen them but if i heard of it before i would of took a look at them.

YokePosted:

I've seen some shows and i wasnt to big of a fan. but like AR-15 said now they can focus on gaming alone.

LFAPosted:

I would have enjoyed to watch some of these shows but I again agree with AR15
not many people will have been wanting to watch them so the best thing they could have done it shut it down and focussed more on their consoles and games which nearly everyone plays

AR15Posted:

Heir This is so stupid, would have loved to see some of those shows.




Pinned They would have made alot of money with the Halo shows. Kinda stupid on there part.


They will make a lot more money focusing more on the key element, gaming and making their console even better for the customers.

Also, Heir, the majority of people don't watch these which is why they are being cancelled. So, just because YOU think it is stupid, doesn't make it so.

imaqtpiePosted:

This is so stupid, would have loved to see some of those shows.

MusketPosted:

They would have made alot of money with the Halo shows. Kinda stupid on there part.

JaxsPosted:

Dylan-
vWatsonc So are they firing people or are they just shutting down a project


Well if they are closing that department they will most likely give those employees a job in a different department, or fire them depending on the circumstances.


They are firing them, they are firing over 1500 people.

DusknoirPosted:

vWatsonc So are they firing people or are they just shutting down a project


Well if they are closing that department they will most likely give those employees a job in a different department, or fire them depending on the circumstances.

vWatsoncPosted:

So are they firing people or are they just shutting down a project

KixaPosted:

Gossip
FaIIen I still want more Halo productions like Forward Unto Dawn.


That was a good series, I was them to make a COD series.


A cod series would be interesting and cool.


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