Microsoft starts new London game studio for tablet apps
updated 04:18 pm EDT, Sat September 15, 2012
New company headed by former Rare lead
Microsoft is forming a new game studio solely for Windows 8 tablet development. The London-based studio's remit will be based on "Entertainment as a Service," with the primary focus being creating games and applications for the RT version of Microsoft's incoming operating system, in the hope it will bolster the app store's catalog.
The new company will be headed by Lee Schuneman, formerly the production director at Rare, and has already worked on a number of major Xbox 360 projects, such as Kinect Sports, Fable: The Journey, the Sky TV app, and the Xbox 360 Avatar system.
A recruitment drive for the currently unnamed studio is underway with the aim of commencing operations in November, and initially will be based at the Great Pulteney Street premises of Microsoft Studios. This will be the fourth studio under the ownership of Microsoft, the others being Rare, Lionhead, and Soho Productions.
