Microsoft Head Explains Why They Bought Many Studios For Xbox One Games
In the current console war, the Xbox One is failing. Especially with the rise of the Nintendo Switch, it’s becoming perfectly clear just how much the system, and Microsoft, are failing to grow as a game company. While they do alright in some areas, when it comes to first-party exclusives they aren’t holding up their end of the bargain. At E3 2018 though, Microsoft revealed that they had bought several studios with the express goals of making exclusive titles for the Xbox.
But, that did raise some questions, why did Microsoft feel the need to do so in this manner? Well, the CVP of Microsoft Game Studios, Matt Booty, talked to PC Games Insider about this, and noted:
“Having a collection of dedicated first-party game development studios is a powerful and unique asset,” he explained. “We are the first to implement new technologies, the first to deliver content for new platforms, the first to explore new business models. It enables us to build a portfolio of exclusive games, and this was the right time to increase that investment. It is also interesting to observe the changes in the industry.”
No doubt the “changes in the industry” refer to things like the Nintendo Switch, as well as the success of services like their Xbox Game Pass, which will no doubt grow via all the studios that have been purchased. But Booty also notes that there are other reasons for having these studios:
“While the industry is growing across the board, there seems to be fewer teams and studios focused on ‘mid-tier’ games that sit between triple-A blockbusters on one end and smaller indie games on the other. Those are some of the kinds of studios that we’re interested in partnering with right now, studios with teams that can make quality, crafted games that sit just between mid-tier and triple-A and by becoming part of our Microsoft Studios family, can focus on craft and innovation and accelerate their creative growth.”
The real question though is whether the Xbox One will make a true bounce back because of this. Or, is it a case of too little too late?
