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Forums - Microsoft Discussion - Microsoft Site Removes 5 More Studios

I don't know what to make of this:

 

Logos for Lionhead Studios and Press Play Studios have both been removed from the Microsoft Studios website following yesterday's announcement that both are set to close. But that's not all.

A further five studios and the Project Spark logo were also removed from the website last night, including Kinect Joy Ride developer BigPark, along with Function Studios, Good Science, LXP and SOTA.

Here's how the website looked on March 4 according to https://microsoftstudios.com/studios/+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk">Google Cache:

And here's how it looks today:

While it isn't clear when exactly the changes to the website were made, a Google Cache update reveals they were carried out after 17:24 GMT last night, following the announcement regarding Lionhead and Press Play.

Microsoft has yet to state why the additional studios have been removed from the website - yesterday's announcement only spoke of its plans for Lionhead and Press Play. Some, however, have speculated that it may be due to their links to Hololens, which may not specifically be geared towards gaming.

Project Spark's servers, meanwhile, have been offline since Friday, March 4, according to an update on the game's website, which the team is said to be "investigating". Last September, Microsoft announced that the game was being transitioned into a "free incubation engine" and that all future DLC had been cancelled.

VideoGamer has contacted Microsoft for comment.

Source: microsoftstudios.com

http://www.videogamer.com/news/microsoft_studios_site_removes_5_more_studios.html



 

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Cutting dead wood and streamline the games that make decent profit, Rare look very unsafe if there next game bombs it's over for them.

But is this Microsoft going PC only next gen?



What on Earth is going on over there? Even if they want to shift focus to PC again, wouldn't they want to keep 1st party projects too?

Also, Rare might be the next one, specially with Younger Conker getting a horrible reception and their only hit this gen (KI) being made by other studio.



You know it deserves the GOTY.

Come join The 2018 Obscure Game Monthly Review Thread.

So just a small handful of studios left to make halo gears and forza huh? Very interesting moves lately by Microsoft. Wonder what's going on.



I think this topic is the same as this: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=214447&page=1#7

^^



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Folk's, bare in mind this is only the removal of studio logos from their site. It IS odd and a little worrying but we don't know exactly why yet. It might be nothing at the end of the day.



 

The PS5 Exists. 


tiffac said:
I think this topic is the same as this: http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=214447&page=1#7

^^

But this one has 100% more originality and free apples on tuesday's.



BigPark moved on to apps, so also removing them makes sense. However, we haven't heard from them for a while so them also shutting down immediately wouldn't be a surprise at all. But in the end them being on that site doesn't make sense, regardless if they still exist or not.

Function, Good Science, LXP and SOTA are working on HoloLens projects, so they are probably re-branding.

Maybe Microsoft is splitting Microsoft Studios into Xbox Studios (Xbox and W10 games) and HoloLens Studios (HoloLens games and projects)? That would make sense.

The Microsoft Studios website also never made any sense to begin with. Why were some HoloLens studios on there, yet FIT (Holobuilder) isn't? Also where are studios such as Decisive Games (working on "the next installment in a beloved strategy game franchise") and Launchworks (South Park Scott Tenorman's Revenge, South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play! and Fable II Pub Games)? Those are studios who have developed games and/or are currently developing XB1 and/or PC games yet they aren't on there and they've never been.



poklane said:

BigPark moved on to apps, so also removing them makes sense. However, we haven't heard from them for a while so them also shutting down immediately wouldn't be a surprise at all.

Function, Good Science, LXP and SOTA are working on HoloLens projects, so they are probably re-branding.

Yeah, that's what I'm waiting to hear. Until then I'm treating this as speculation.



 

The PS5 Exists. 


DEAD_ORIGINAL said:
Cutting dead wood & streamline the games that make decent profit, Rare look very unsafe if there next game bombs it's over for them.

But is this Microsoft going PC only next gen?

Thats my guess.

"Next gen console? bish please,.... why dont you buy this fab gameing pc with windows 10 instead?" - MS anno 2020.