Thu, Oct 13, 2011 | 04:49 BST
Twisted Pixel bought by Microsoft Studios – details
Microsoft’s announced its bought Twisted Pixel, making it the latest studio to join its internal Microsoft Studios arm.
The studio, which was formed in 2006, recently released Kinect title The Gunstringer, and was behind XBLA smash hits Splosion Man, Ms. Splosion Man and The Maw.
All of its future content will, obviously, now be exclusive to Xbox 360.
“Twisted Pixel has an incredible track record of innovative, critically acclaimed, and most importantly, fun, games,” said Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer.
“Microsoft Studios is home to cutting-edge entertainment experiences, and the incredible creativity of the Twisted Pixel team will help drive further innovation around Kinect and Xbox LIVE.”
Twisted Pixel CEO Michael Wilford added: “It is really exciting for us to solidify our long-standing relationship with Microsoft Studios, who we consider to be the leader in digital distribution and creating new innovations in gaming like Xbox LIVE and Kinect.
“As part of the family of Microsoft Studios we look forward to bringing even bigger and richer experiences to Xbox and Twisted Pixel fans around the world.”
In a subsequent interview with Joystiq, Spencer said Microsoft Studios it’s learning from previous acquisitions this time round with Twisted Pixel.
“I can go through the list of studios we’ve worked with. I can honestly say we’ve become better at working with partners and keeping them what they are,” he said.
“In the beginning, it was ‘everybody’s got to move to Redmond, kind of integrate completely into the Microsoft process,’ and that doesn’t always work for every culture. I think you have to keep to the core of ‘What is this partnership about?’”
Twisted Pixel is the 12th studio to join Microsoft Studios, nee Microsoft Game Studios, alongside Rare, Turn 10, Lionhead and Big Park Studio.
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Posted in: Kinect, Microsoft, Xbox 360
Tags: Microsoft Studios, twisted pixel
10 comments
#1
absolutezero
12/10/11, 11:19 am
Next news story “Twisted Pixel put to work shitting out as many Kinetic titles as it can”.
Hooray!
#2
Moonwalker1982
12/10/11, 11:49 am
Twisted Pixel’s titles so far have been top quality, i just hope it won’t be all Kinect only titles from on.
#3
PEYJ
12/10/11, 2:35 pm
?
Apart from the five developers mentioned in this article, who are the remaining seven?
#4
Razor
12/10/11, 5:08 pm
Noooooooo.
Was hoping for some Sony love from these guys.
Oh well.
#5
daytripper
12/10/11, 5:14 pm
@4 cant you play the games on a xbox?
#6
Gheritt White
12/10/11, 5:20 pm
I like ol’ Phil’s not-so-veiled reference to the complete disintegration of FASA and Ensemble, not to mention MGS’ *woeful* mismanagement of Rare.
#7
minxamo
12/10/11, 5:43 pm
Wow, I didn’t realise Microsoft knew what the word ‘fun’ meant.
#8
gdogg979
12/10/11, 6:02 pm
@3
BigPark – Kinect Joy Ride
Twisted Pixel Games – The Gunstringer, ‘Splosion Man, Ms. Splosion Man, The Maw, Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley
Good Science Studio – Kinect Adventures
Lionhead Studios – Fable series, Black & White series, The Movies
MGS Family – Untitled Project
MGS Soho – Untitled Project
MGS Mobile Gaming – ilomilo
MGS Vancouver – Untitled Project[13]
Rare Ltd. – Kinect Sports, Banjo-Kazooie series, Viva Piñata, Perfect Dark series
Turn 10 Studios – Forza Motorsport series
Xbox Live Productions – South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play!
343 Industries – Halo series
#9
PEYJ
12/10/11, 6:42 pm
Jesus. They have opened 6 studios in the last two years. All of them however, are mobile and Kinect Studios. Or at least, that seems likely.
#10
Ireland Michael
12/10/11, 9:32 pm
Now watch as Twisted Pixel becomes little more than an autonomous machines that churns out nothing but shit Kinect game after Kinect game, and losed all of their personality and creativity to Microsoft’s cowardly, focused tested and dull as mud design process.