Xbox Game Studios

Logo: Xbox Game Studios

Description

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 not placed under Xbox Game Studios; instead, it was put alongside the label as part of the new Microsoft Gaming division.

Known subsidiaries

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

  • ACES Game Studio (acquired in 1995 - closed in 2009)
  • Big Park (acquired in 2009 - unknown closure date)
  • Bungie (acquired in 2000 - became independent in 2007)
  • Carbonated Games
  • The Coalition (founded in 2010 - formerly known as Zipline Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver, and Black Tusk Studios)
  • Compulsion Games (acquired in 2018)
  • Digital Anvil (acquired in 2000 - closed in 2006)
  • Double Fine Productions (acquired in 2019)
  • Ensemble Studios (acquired in 2001 - closed in 2009)
  • FASA Studio (acquired in 1998 - closed in 2007)
  • Good Science Studio (founded in 2009 - unknown closure date)
  • Halo Studios (founded in 2007 - formerly known as 343 Industries)
  • Hired Gun (known only to have been active around 2007)
  • Indie Built (acquired in 1998 as Access Software - sold to Take-Two Interactive in 2004)
  • The Initiative (founded in 2018, closed in 2025)
  • inXile Entertainment (acquired in 2018)
  • Lift London (founded in 2012 - inactive since 2019)
  • Lionhead Studios (acquired in 2006 - closed in 2016)
  • Microsoft Game Studios Japan
  • Mojang (acquired in 2014)
  • Ninja Theory (acquired in 2018)
  • Obsidian Entertainment (acquired in 2018)
  • Playground Games (acquired in 2018)
  • Press Play (acquired in 2012 - closed in 2016)
  • Rare (acquired in 2002)
  • Team Dakota
  • Turn 10 Studios (founded in 2001)
  • Twisted Pixel Games (acquired in 2011 - became independent in 2015)
  • Undead Labs (acquired in 2018)
  • WingNut Interactive (established in 2006 - sold to WingNut Films in 2009)
  • World's Edge (established in 2019)
  • ZeniMax Media (acquired in 2020)
    • Alpha Dog Games (acquired in 2020 - closed in 2024)
    • Arkane Studios (Lyon) (acquired in 2020)
      • Arkane Studios (Austin) (acquired in 2020 - closed in 2024)
    • Bethesda Game Studios (acquired in 2020)
      • Bethesda Game Studios Austin (acquired in 2020)
      • Bethesda Game Studios Dallas (acquired in 2020)
      • Bethesda Game Studios MontrĂ©al (acquired in 2020)
    • Bethesda Softworks (acquired in 2020)
    • id Software (acquired in 2020)
      • ZeniMax Germany (acquired in 2020)
    • MachineGames (acquired in 2020)
    • Roundhouse Studios (acquired in 2020 - closed in 2024, staff moved to ZeniMax Online Studios)
    • Tango Gameworks (acquired in 2020 - closed in 2024)
    • ZeniMax Asia
    • ZeniMax Online Studios (acquired in 2020)
      • ZeniMax Online Studios Hungary (acquired in 2022 as Nemesys Games)