Xbox Game Studios

Moby ID: 57

AKA +
  • Microsoft Studios (from 2011-06-06 to 2019-02-05)
  • Microsoft Game Studios (from 2001 to 2011-06-06)
  • Microsoft Games (from 2000-03 to 2001)

Overview edit · view history

The gaming label of the Microsoft Corporation was introduced in March 2000 for products developed in-house or as first-party software for the Xbox console and Microsoft Windows. The label is associated with numerous franchises such as Age of Empires, Halo, Forza Motorsport, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Minecraft and others.

In June 2011, during the E3 convention, the company announced that it would be "rebranding" the name to Microsoft Studios.

On 5 February 2019, the company rebranded again as Xbox Game Studios, as part of Microsoft's attempt to expand the Xbox brand beyond the console line.

On 21 September 2020, Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media and their subsidiaries, assigning them to the Xbox Game Studios label. On 13 October 2023, Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard after over a year of seeking approval from international institutions, but it was not yet absorbed into the label as of January 2024.

Known subsidiaries

Names in italics used to be subsidiaries, but no longer are as they were closed or sold off.

As of 13 October 2023, Activision Blizzard became part of Microsoft's gaming portfolio as well, but not yet merged with Xbox Game Studios. This included:

Credited on 787 Games from 2001 to 2024

Displaying most recent · View all

Forza Motorsport (2023 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox Series)
Minecraft Legends (2023 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One...)
Age of Empires II: Deluxe Definitive Edition Bundle (2023 on Xbox Series, Windows Apps, Xbox One)
Pentiment (2022 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox One...)
Age of Empires: 25th Anniversary Collection (2022 on Windows)
As Dusk Falls (2022 on Windows, Windows Apps, PlayStation 4...)
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - The Complete History (2022 on Windows, Windows Apps)
Halo: Infinite - Multiplayer (2021 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox One...)
Forza Horizon 5 (2021 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox One...)
Age of Empires IV (2021 on Windows, Windows Apps, Xbox One...)
Age of Empires IV (Digital Deluxe Edition) (2021 on Windows)
Age of Empires: Anthology Bundle (2021 on Windows)
Psychonauts 2 (2021 on Linux, Windows, Macintosh...)
Minecraft Dungeons: Ultimate Edition (2021 on Xbox One, Windows Apps, Xbox Series)
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021 on Xbox One, Xbox Series)
Gears Triple Bundle (2021 on Xbox One, Xbox Series, Windows Apps)
Halo 4 (2020 on Windows, Windows Apps)
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (2020 on Windows, Windows Apps)
Halo 3: ODST (2020 on Windows, Windows Apps)
Age of Empires III: Complete Collection & Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (2020 on Windows)

[ view all ]

History +

October 13, 2023

Activision Blizzard and its subsidiaries become part of the label.

September 21, 2020

Xbox Game Studios announced the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, including their subsidiaries: ZeniMax Online Studios, MachineGames, Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, id Software, Arkane Studios, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios.

February 5, 2019

Company rebranded as Xbox Game Studios after attempting to push the Xbox brand outside of the console family of the same name.

June 2011

Microsoft Game Studios re-branded as Microsoft Studios.

January 23, 2009

The company confirms to close Aces Game Studio, its internal development studio responsible for the Microsoft Flight Simulator series. At the time, the team was working on Microsoft Train Simulator 2.

[ view all ]

Trivia +

Some working titles for the Xbox 360 console were Project Xenon, Xbox 2 and Xbox Next.

Related Web Sites +

Contribute

Add your expertise to help preserve video game history! You can submit a correction or add the following: