Microsoft to Close Ensemble Studios Following the Completion of Halo Wars

alexp999 · Sep 10, 2008

In an article published by Shacknews, Microsoft has released an official statement which details their decision to close Ensemble Studios, a developer within Microsoft Game Studios, upon completion of the upcoming title Halo Wars, a real-time strategy game based on the Halo franchise.

The full statement can be read below:

Microsoft has decided to close Ensemble Studios following the completion of Halo Wars. After the closure, the Ensemble leadership team will form a new studio and has agreed to provide ongoing support for Halo Wars as well as work on other projects with Microsoft Game Studios.

The team at Ensemble has made invaluable contributions to the games industry with their Age of Empires and Age of Mythology games and with the highly anticipated release of Halo Wars. This decision does not reflect at all on Ensembles talent or the quality of Halo Wars. in fact, many people who have had a chance to test drive Halo Wars agree that it is on track to being a fantastic game.

This was a fiscally-rooted decision that keeps MGS on its growth path. While the decision to dissolve Ensemble was not an easy one, Microsoft is working to place as many Ensemble employees who do not move to the newly formed studio into open positions within Microsoft as possible.

As to our overall strategy at MGS, it remains the same. We are committed to growing MGS with world-class talent both internally and with our external partners around the globe. We have recently added some well-known developers to our team and will continue growing the team. Were particularly excited about the titles we have in the pipeline and continue to evaluate additional opportunities to bring incredible games to life with the industrys best. Our investment in games has never been greater than it is today.

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alexp999 · Sep 10, 2008

Thanks to wolf2009 for sending this in.

Apocolypse007 · Sep 10, 2008

Why close a studio that's making plenty of profit? This seems like a strange move on Microsoft's part. :confused:

MilkyWay · Sep 10, 2008

thats a shame i hope they dont close Rare
the new studio better keep making age of empires

i hope this means they can get new games out faster its a shame ensemble was great

at least they are making a new studio

WarEagleAU · Sep 10, 2008

Who knows why, but Im trying to remember Age of Mythology,

Apocolypse007 · Sep 10, 2008

the only RTS games that hold a place in my heart are Starcraft, Warcraft, And the CnC Seiries. Halo Wars looks promising though, and lets hope this news doesn't dim the creativity and passion of those working on it.

Analog_Manner · Sep 10, 2008

"This was a fiscally-rooted decision that keeps MGS on its growth path."

For those of you who are wondering, this means that Microsoft Game Studios is not growing at as great a rate as they want. By adding Ensemble Studio's entire revenue stream to MGS' they can meet their profit quotas, even though MGS' growth personally could be stagnant.

They are just moving money to make the books look good.

mlupple · Sep 10, 2008

what The @**%, Microsoft?!

Damn! I loved the Age of series!! I was hoping for an Age of Mythology 2!! GAAAaH!!!

This is a DOUBLE DISS! First MS has one of the best RTS developers make a game out of one of the WORST FPSs of all time, then they shut them down...

devguy · Sep 10, 2008

Damn, that seems to reduce the chances of a PC port of Halo Wars. I have an Xbox 360 and you can bet that unless it is a 95/100 or better experience, I won't be buying it because RTS + joystick = frustrating (almost always).

PCpraiser100 · Sep 10, 2008

Eww, Halo. I'm gonna go wash my mouth out with Half-Life certified mouthwash.

alexp999 · Sep 10, 2008

devguy said:
Damn, that seems to reduce the chances of a PC port of Halo Wars. I have an Xbox 360 and you can bet that unless it is a 95/100 or better experience, I won't be buying it because RTS + joystick = frustrating (almost always).

Well they said, that Halo Wars is being built from the ground up to be a console RTS. No crappy port where the controls dont work very well. So it wouldnt suprise if they didnt feel the need for a PC port. Its the first RTS I'm getting on a console. All others Ive tried, like C+C really dont work well enough an a gamepad.

Siman0 · Sep 10, 2008

WTH the Age of empires series isnt complete yet...BS

MilkyWay · Sep 10, 2008

Age of empires they could do a modern version of a war, or a ww2 game but then making the buildings would be stupid its not like you can mine for gold in WW2

Scrizz · Sep 11, 2008

MilkyWay said:
Age of empires they could do a modern version of a war, or a ww2 game but then making the buildings would be stupid its not like you can mine for gold in WW2

yeah you can

JC316 · Sep 11, 2008

Kinda crappy, I loved Age of Mythology, even if it was unbalanced as hell. Always wanted another one.

mithrandir · Sep 11, 2008

Oh Man!!

Ensemble were one of the best in the business. Really enjoyed the quality and detail in the Age games. I hope the employees get snapped up elsewhere or join up to create their own studios

PP Mguire · Sep 11, 2008

Well they said, that Halo Wars is being built from the ground up to be a console RTS. No crappy port where the controls dont work very well. So it wouldnt suprise if they didnt feel the need for a PC port.

Even if they are "redoing" it from gound up it dosent mean that you wont be using a joystick on the controler for RTS. RTS is just best with mouse and keyboard honestly.

Voyager · Sep 11, 2008

Where is my Age of Empires IV now!

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Microsoft to Close Ensemble Studios Following the Completion of Halo Wars

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