The first is Playground Games, a British developer that we first discussed last week. That was when Microsoft’s interest in the company was first revealed. At Xbox E3 the company confirmed that interest was concrete. This is arguably the most clear-cut acquisition considering Playground Games develops Microsoft’s own Forza Horizon series. Last week we also speculated on the company potentially developing another Microsoft franchise. Playground Games is rumoured to be working on an open-world title thought to be the next Fable game. At Xbox E3 2018, Microsoft also announced its intent to acquire Ninja Theory. The company has been working with the developer since 2000 when it created Kung Fu Chaos for the original Xbox. That relationship has continued and earlier this year Ninja Theory released Hellblade exclusively for Xbox One. Microsoft says it wants to buy the company to give it more resources for creating exclusive titles for the platform. Undead Labs is another company Microsoft has set it sights on. The developer is best known for the popular State of Decay franchise. Microsoft says it wants to help Undead Labs nurture State of Decay and grow the series.
Expansion
Finally, Microsoft intends to fork out to purchase Compulsion Games, a developer currently working on “As We Happy Few”. However, that title is a multiplatform that will arrive on August 10. Microsoft wants Compulsion to come under its umbrella to create more ambitious projects and create more scale. Finally, Microsoft announced The Initiative, a new Microsoft-owned studio working out of Santa Monica, California. The company says this studio will be helmed by industry veteran Darrell Gallagher. So far information is sparse, but Microsoft points out the studio will “create groundbreaking new worlds, characters and game experiences.”
