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Microsoft Game Studios Acquires Lionhead Studios

Marcel Klum   on 06 April 2006 - 19:39 · 21 comments & 15465 views

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REDMOND, Wash. — April 6, 2006 — Microsoft Game Studios (MGS) today announced it has purchased U.K.-based Lionhead Studios, one of the world’s leading and most innovative video game developers and creators of “Fable®,” the hit Xbox® and Windows® franchise.

Lionhead Studios will immediately begin creating content exclusively for the Xbox 360™ and Microsoft® Windows platforms. The companies previously worked together on the popular role-playing games “Fable” for Xbox and “Fable: The Lost Chapters” for Xbox and Windows, which have collectively surpassed the 2 million global unit sales milestone, making “Fable” the best-selling role-playing franchise on the Xbox platform. “Fable” and “Fable: The Lost Chapters” enable players to make decisions that affect their character’s skills, appearances and morality and the world around them.

“At Microsoft Game Studios we have worked hard to become the best partner for the best creative talent in our industry, and this acquisition underscores our commitment to excellence,” said Shane Kim, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios. “Peter Molyneux is one of the few true visionaries in our industry, and his joining us is incredibly important to the future of both interactive entertainment and MGS. Lionhead is a shining example of the innovative and creative talent that has delivered some of the most influential and unique games experiences to date, and I am honored to welcome Peter and the incredible people at Lionhead Studios.”

News source: Lionhead website
“We could not be more excited about being part of MGS. They have long supported our creative vision, and this teamwork resulted in the hugely successful ‘Fable’ franchise,” said Molyneux, managing director of Lionhead Studios. “This acquisition gives Lionhead the stability and opportunity to focus on creating world-class next-generation titles. We are joining some of the most incredible game creators in the industry, the combined talent of which will truly take next-generation gaming to a new level.”
With today’s announcement, Lionhead Studios becomes the latest member of MGS, joining such prestigious and globally recognized game creators as Bungie Studios, Ensemble Studios, FASA Studio and Rare Ltd. on a team whose charter is to create exclusive entertainment experiences that differentiate Xbox 360 and Windows from other gaming platforms.

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(1 reply) #1 Viper217 on 06 Apr 2006 - 20:01
well, lionhead studios makes good quality products, hopefully with Microsofts funding they can come out with another great rpg like fable.
#1.1 yert* on 06 Apr 2006 - 20:14
Lionhead Studios is making Fable 2 right now I believe.
#2 Axon on 06 Apr 2006 - 20:40
I wonder if now we'll be able to get a "Skirmish" mode on this game!!!
#3 thenay on 06 Apr 2006 - 21:10
I guess this means new games that are made by the lionhead team and that will go online will be great and reliable.
(3 replies) #4 techbeck on 06 Apr 2006 - 21:33
Oh boy, another product MS is gonna screw up. I wonder if it is gonna be as riddled with bugs as all their other products are....
#4.1 Mieky242 on 06 Apr 2006 - 21:46
There's always one isnt there.
#4.2 Beastage on 06 Apr 2006 - 22:02
MS Game Studios are one of the best game publishers on the market
no use of intrusive copy protection, great support for their games, good handeling with game developers to avoid game bugs.

All their games have great supports and quality
#4.3 Emphatic on 07 Apr 2006 - 10:35
Yeah cos like Halo, MechAssault, Flight Simulator etc... they'll messed up aren't they...
(2 replies) #5 Smigit on 06 Apr 2006 - 22:13
Cool. I've had no problems with Microsoft published games, the AOE series in particular has all been very polished and halo also is another example.

Fable wasn't bad either but Black and White 2 blew my socks off, I hope they make a sequal for that. It is such a cool concept. When I finish oblivion I will have to make sure to go back and finish the game.
#5.1 :: Lyon :: on 06 Apr 2006 - 23:13
By the time I finish my Oblivion. I'll replay it using another character lol
#5.2 Smigit on 07 Apr 2006 - 02:22
well that of course is assuming I ever do finish it
(3 replies) #6 darkpuma on 06 Apr 2006 - 23:16
Quote -
Oh boy, another product MS is gonna screw up
Wow, that was insiteful of you....


How about: Hurray! Now theres one less studio for EA to aquire!
#6.1 icebrain on 06 Apr 2006 - 23:51
lol ... funny point of view ;-)

seriously though, I have seen many games and those under Microsoft's Game Studios are some of the best and most stable games I have ever played. One example thats comes to mind is Age of Mythology vs C&C Generals. AoM played great on every hardware i have without any hickups, C&C on the other hand, the last patch screwed it up baddly :/
#6.2 darkpuma on 07 Apr 2006 - 01:47
yeah, i run a forum for red alert 1, and after that last patch we got flooded with more tech support questions than we had beforehand!
#6.3 srstakey on 08 Apr 2006 - 02:36
@ darkpuma: I couldn't agree more.
(3 replies) #7 strekship on 07 Apr 2006 - 01:06
Cool. Microsoft Games is a great publisher. Much better than EA. Im still waiting for Freelancer 2.
#7.1 darthsuo on 07 Apr 2006 - 02:02
Totally. Freelancer was one of my favorite games ever. BRING ON THE SEQUEL, MS!
#7.2 macrosslover on 07 Apr 2006 - 05:38
unfortunately i don't think we'll see a sequel to it. I read somewhere that the sales were ok but not great. If they did make a sequel it would make a better 360 live game than pc IMO.
#7.3 Xavien on 07 Apr 2006 - 20:14
freelancer was awesome, you cant just leave a cliffhanger like that at the end and NOT make freelancer 2

Freelancer 2: The Nomad Wars ^^
#8 minkcar on 07 Apr 2006 - 13:12
I hope they make another Black and White still
#9 Dayon on 09 Apr 2006 - 00:24
Very cool. MGS has a nice record of publishing quality stuff.

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