@apujanata, Just look at Microsoft's recent activities. They are paying less attention to the PC market than ever. For good reason though, because they can make more money off of pushing the Xbox 360 where they control hardware, accessories, licensing, and more.
@apujanata, I don't know why they completely closed Ensemble Studios, but they obviously have plans for the leftovers of Ensemble - use some of the upper level people to create a new developer with a different focus and then distribute the lower level people around Microsoft for various other projects.
@apujanata, Look like they are either trying to consolidate all the game development resources in one large entity or they are going to kill the gaming division altogether... But you are right saying scalable ventures is very vague and can be interperated in lot of different ways.. But the worst lost is for the Age of Empires fanbase..
@lstormy10, From here : "it became clear to us that closing the studio and redeploying those resources to other more scalable ventures is the right thing for our business at this time" What is other more scalable ventures ? How does this statement could be interpreted to mean "more console focus" ?
Can you tell me WHY they need to close ensemble and making a new company ? I couldn't think of any scenario in which it is necessary for a company to close shop, and open a new shop. The easiest way is just do a share swap / buyout.
@noobie, Bungie was not a closure - Bungie bought the rest of themselves from Microsoft to become independent.
@apujanata, I believe the intention is the direct opposite of what you said. Instead of dropping out of the console market, I believe this is a move to bring more of their resources to work on the console market and less on the PC market (which was the entirety of Ensemble's focus before Halo Wars).
Yesterday, Microsoft announced that they'd be shuttering renowned developer Ensemble Studios, as soon as they're done developing Halo Wars. As one of the world's premier PC and strategy developers, this was sad, sad news. While Microsoft have since issued a public statement outlining the reasons behind the closure, if you'd like, you can click through and read the internal e-mail sent to Microsoft games Studios employees, in which MGS boss Phil Spencer breaks the news to the company at large.
@welshbloke, Though Microsoft will close the studio, Ensemble brass plan to soldier on. As part of today's statement, the studio said that "the leadership team" will form a new development house, and has already entered into an agreement with Microsoft to continue supporting Halo Wars post-launch, "as well as work on other projects with Microsoft Game Studios."
Commenting on the reason for the closure, Microsoft said, "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."
What happened to the staff of the previous closures? Did most of them reshuffle to within Microsoft and is this simply a case of Microsoft restructuring attempting to strengthen the Microsoft game development as a brand? I am inclined to believe that the staff are being redeployed.
@noobie, Maybe they think they don't need to build (self develop) exclusive, since they can buy exclusive ?
Or maybe they no longer plan to compete in the console market ? (No X720, like Pacter predicted)
It could be any reason, even one that we didn't think of.
"This decision does not reflect at all on Ensemble’s talent or the quality of Halo Wars" In my general experience, quality of this game should be affected by the shut-down, since it usually affect morale (when you need to find job, you couldn't put 120% of your effort into your current work). I am inclined to believe in BIG negative impact, so I shorted this stock some more.
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Just look at Microsoft's recent activities. They are paying less attention to the PC market than ever. For good reason though, because they can make more money off of pushing the Xbox 360 where they control hardware, accessories, licensing, and more.
@apujanata,
I don't know why they completely closed Ensemble Studios, but they obviously have plans for the leftovers of Ensemble - use some of the upper level people to create a new developer with a different focus and then distribute the lower level people around Microsoft for various other projects.