Phil Spencer “New Studios Starting Up On First Games”

Posted Feb 8 2014 by Dylan Zellmer with 42 Comments

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Many, including myself, were very surprised to hear that Amazon had acquired Double Helix Games (Killer Instinct). Considering DH had just wrapped up development on Strider and were continuing to support Xbox One exclusive, Killer Instinct, it was an unforeseen event. Many were left wondering if Microsoft had known about the impending purchase, and if additional third-party support would be leaving for Amazon. News broke that Microsoft Studios would be announcing a new development partner to take up the KI mantle very soon,

“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Double Helix and wish them success in their next endeavor. We want all of our loyal fans to know that the ‘Killer Instinct’ team at Microsoft is not changing and that the franchise will remain with Microsoft Studios. We remain dedicated to delivering a great experience and plan to announce our new development partner soon. We’re excited about the future of this popular franchise.”

The statement would indicate no ill will toward the studio, and that plans have been in motion to find a new developer for KI prior to Amazon’s purchase of Double Helix. Xbox exec, Phil Spencer, made it very clear that,

@GGhalid Good relationships with our external devs mean I usually know what’s happening ahead of time and can plan.

Which is good news for Killer Instinct fans. Even more promising was Spencer’s more recent comment on Xbox development,

@Steverulez We’ve a lot of new studios starting on their first games. Growth thru hiring great teams, giving them time. It’s a LT approach.

We know of one prominent new studio that’s beginning work on a new game; Black Tusk. Outside of that, not much is known about brand new studios that are beginning work on new games. It’s not specified whether Spencer is talking about new IP’s or just games that are early in development. We may get lucky and hear more about these new studios and projects at GDC. However, it’s more likely that Xbox will try to drop a megaton at E3 to spur on a case of amnesia in regards to Xbox’s last E3 appearance.

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Dylan Zellmer

EIC at iGame Responsibly
Dylan splits time between games journalism, designing video games, and playing them. Outside of his deep involvement in the games industry, he enjoys It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Shameless, A Song of Ice and Fire, fitness, and family.
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  • Crapgamer

    “However, it’s more likely that Xbox will try to drop a megaton at E3 to spur on a case of amnesia in regards to Xbox’s last E3 appearance”

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Microsoft absolutely destroy the competition in the games department at last E3? They showed nothing but game after game. E3 is strictly about games and nobody showed more. The past couple of years prior to 2013’s E3 people harped on Microsoft not focusing on games at E3, then they do nothing but games and still people complain. Color me perplexed…

    • I definitely wasn’t referring to their failure to show games. I was alluding to the fact that Xbox came out of E3 and changed their entire plan for the Xbox One due to poor reception at both the reveal and E3.

      • Crapgamer

        If they do another E3 like last years it’ll be one of the most impressive showcases ever.

        • Blaze Blue

          I’m definitely with you on that! Sony can’t bs this years E3.

          • Brilliantly worded! Probably the best way anybody could’ve put it.

          • You are flat out wrong

            Nah, they can show off actual exclusives built for the console, which is a hell of a lot more than what Microsoft can boast so far.

          • Blaze Blue

            You really sounds like a man that has not yet grown up. You take child like shots at me. You really have no clue of who you are talking. I only have a somewhat of a thought of your personality by the way you reacted to my comment that had nothing to do with you.

          • You are flat out wrong

            Can’t handle the truth, huh? No doubt the kind of “person” who thought DRM was DA FUCHUR too.

          • Blaze Blue

            It’s not the truth, and you totally disregard every single thing i said. You are a man with a child brain grow up man and! get away from the computer. What ever you had said it was way off facts. Help yourself by growing up for your own sake.

          • You are flat out wrong

            Don’t worry, maybe this year MS won’t botch up an E3 for once.

        • You are flat out wrong

          A snoozefest riddled with technical errors that got destroyed by Sony’s conference?

          Then again in their defense, it was a lot better than the atrocities they put on in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

    • You are flat out wrong

      Not really. Most of their games were multiplats or half-assed 360 ports that didn’t move anyone. It was only good in relation to the absolutely horrific reveal that was laughed at worldwide. The Xbone only started picking up steam once they ditched the DRM.

      • Zohak Diaz

        Hahahahahaahahha, E3 will be owned by Microsoft.

        • You are flat out wrong

          I love Xbitch fanfiction.

          Hi Zohan. Hope you enjoy another Forza Horizon, a Halo rehash and a dozen Kinect games. Oh yeah, can’t forget MS wasting its time with those garbage AR glasses while SCE introduces proper VR.

          • Zohak Diaz

            LOL, yes i will enjoy Titanfall very much

          • You are flat out wrong

            Titanflop will be long forgotten by June, friend.

          • Zohak Diaz

            Is that you praying?

          • You are flat out wrong

            COD with mechs will be but a memory after two weeks, even sooner if the same EA quality that affected BF4 hits Titanflop.

          • You are flat out wrong

            COD with mechs will be but a memory after two weeks, even sooner if the same EA quality that affected BF4 hits Titanflop.

          • Zohak Diaz

            Get ur pauper station foul first

          • You are flat out wrong

            LOL, are you the loser who keeps spamming that around? Get a life, son.

      • Zohak Diaz

        Did u get ur pos yet?

        • You are flat out wrong

          Yeah, your mom came round. I porked her asshole until it fell out. 😡

          • Zohak Diaz

            Taken by that answer you havent collect the mere $400 that piece of plastic costs. Sad story.

          • You are flat out wrong

            How’s your Xbone, Zohan? Collecting a lot of dust?

          • Zohak Diaz

            No games,
            No good servers,
            Twitch to watch fat ugly b””s streaming garbage
            Lol. Thats the consolation prize.

            Titanfall not even out yet and already more than a hundred awards.
            LOL.

            Pos 4 full of crap indies.

          • You are flat out wrong

            Loads of games
            No one cares about servers
            Twitch streaming is great.

            Titanflop is a joke and Spore won loads of E3 awards too.

            Xdrones in absolute ruins.

          • Wow, you’re really getting desperate huh? Resorting to images like ^that^…

          • You are flat out wrong

            Hit close to home, huh? Do you have a similar hat?

          • You are flat out wrong

            Cute phone, Zohan. Don’t you know how to save images?

          • Zohak Diaz

            Even tomb raider bettter on xbox one. Lmfao. Pauper indie station LOL

          • You are flat out wrong

            Number of PS4 reviews: 45
            Number of Xbone reviews: 13

            Looks like reviewers are turning to the PS4 as well, Zohan. You should be worried. 🙂

        • Zohak Diaz

          Lmfao this image never gets old!

    • XDrone (is the new name)-lol

      So showing multi plats, rehashed games, and some low budget low quality games( unless ur the only person that actually thought loco cycle was a good game) was showing tons of games???? Come on seruisoly kid, they only showed up with a bunch of crappy games sprinkled with the few good games because they screwd up their showing of the bone, don’t u remember that?? Or are u one of the types of coustmers that micro$oft loves—forgets everything that has been done to them within a few months if that and will buy anything blindly. Remember they had to show a bunch of game cuz they wanted to take ur right away to play/sell ur used games, alway have it online, and have the kinect always plugged in. We did not do that or ask that as gamers they tried to shove it down ur throats.

  • You are flat out wrong

    So, see those “games” in 2016-7 then?

    Xbone: no games, no frames, no hope. Just empty promises and Xbot tears.

    • Zohak Diaz

      Lmfao, you are delirious dude!

      • You are flat out wrong

        Thanks Zohan, I am delicious. ^_^

        • Zohak Diaz

          The denial in this dude is too much. Lol

          • You are flat out wrong

            Don’t steal my hilarious maymay images, Zohan!

          • Zohak Diaz

            I like stealing, just like everything Sony does. lmfao

          • You are flat out wrong

            Yeah, and when the Xbone keeps trailing behind the PS4 for the next five years they’ll be stealing your games too! 😉

          • hakesterman_the_Fool

            So, do you lube up the Xbone controller before it goes in, or do you just have natural Xbot juices to make it slide right in?