*RUMOR* 3d realms bought out by microsoft

[Bitmap Frogs]

rover said:

Bitmap Frogs said:

Ensemble is a RTS developer, a genre that traditionally doesn't do well in consoles.

Sure, but Ensemble did Halo Wars, which is doing quite well.  The Age franchise is nowhere near gone.

Ensemble was, by some accounts, more expensive to operate than any other internal studio.  Swank Texas offices, refusal to downsize employees when there was no work. 

Also, there was talk that Ensemble didn't want to make RTSes any more.  They were big on some MMO and wouldn't budge. At least that's what I heard.

Lastly, they're essentially on their own now, under a different name, able to set their own course, which creatively is probably better for them at this point.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if MS published their stuff in the future.

 

Halo Wars

(relevant parts bolded)

All of the other reasons, I don't know =)