Microsoft: Kinect titles to triple by year end, opens two more studios
Microsoft is continuing to ride the Kinect train after reporting a great quarter due to the device. The company plans to triple the game portfolio for the device by the end of 2011.
Microsoft recently opened up a new studio in Vancouver, dedicated to making ‘core’ Kinect games. It appears that the company opened up two more studios that will focus on Kinect development. Microsoft is funneling significant funds towards Kinect software development by opening three studios in such a short period of time.
Microsoft has a job listing out for two new internal studios with one based in Redmond called MGS Family and the other one is based in Soho, London.
Here is a snippet from the Soho studio job description:
Team/Department Mission and Role Purpose
Microsoft Games Studios – Soho has been tasked to bring the very highest production values to a variety of family entertainment products. The Soho team are working on several exciting and diverse creative opportunities in this space. Building on the success of Kinect, the interactive entertainment business is once again out to change the world of family entertainment. By creating enriching experiences that both educate and delight we are taking Xbox, Xbox Live, and Kinect to new audiences in ways never before dreamed.
Microsoft also sent out a press release today revealing that the company sold 3 million Kinect Sports worldwide to date and 2.5 million copies of Dance Central. In addition, the Xbox 360 was a top performer in the United States, selling 297k units in April.
The company also added that "in anticipation of another record year in 2011, Microsoft announced the size of the Kinect games portfolio will triple by the end of the year."
That is a sizable increase as there is currently 26 existing Kinect games (via Wikipedia). If Microsoft triples its Kinect portfolio, we could see as many as 78 Kinect titles by the end of the year. The company revealed that its E3 segment will largely focus on these unannounced Kinect titles with some hardcore game reveals.
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43 Responses to “Microsoft: Kinect titles to triple by year end, opens two more studios”
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May 13th, 2011
Looks like after Gears 3 my 3rd60 will be pointless. M$ are going to be more kasual than Nintendo soon. At least Nintendo are innovative and always remain fresh …even if its always Mario and Zelda, it never gets old. M$ just steal everyone elses ideas but don’t seem to be able to do as much with it.
May 13th, 2011
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-05-12-team-bondi-ponders-l-a-noire-dlc-plans
Content cut from LA Noire. Wonder why, hmm…
May 13th, 2011
So finally Microsuck is finally giving exclusive first party studio games another try but not for the kind of games the x-boys are hoping for. Drag. Oh wait! I heard the title of that AAA hardcore game is Microsuck Kinecticles 2! Now that’s hardcore!
But I am pretty sure these new studios are going to end up like the rest of the dead studios. Microsuck ain’t the place for creative talents anymore only for those who want to suck money & bills.
May 13th, 2011
PSN has been down for nearly a month now! Come on Sony stop hiding and give us some information! I’m not normally an online game but I want to finish Portal 2 off.
May 13th, 2011
Hmmm
I have to admit that is pretty bloody annoying to read M$ is putting so much effort into the Kinect, while not directing the same effort into pushing forward on the hardcore gaming side of things.
May 13th, 2011
Well, since the 360 is moving full force in Wii territory… I wonder how the Wii-Kids will put up with the X-Boys when it comes to debates like here in Gamer Blorge… hmmm
May 13th, 2011
Microsoft Creed
M-Monetize everything
I-Information media buy out
C-Copy
R-Rip Off
O-Outspend everyone else
S-Steal
O-Outhype everyone else
F-Fail miserably in Japan
T-Trouble Sony,Google & Apple
That is what Microsuck stands for
May 13th, 2011
I already have L.A. Noire pre-ordered and payed off on the Xbox360. Hopefully, this game will be pretty good. I can’t wait to check this game out. Psn being down this long is just awful. They need to get Psn back up.
May 13th, 2011
*To all those that argued with me when I mentioned Microsoft’s new focus.*
Told Ya!
Now get your ass to the store and get yourselves a PS3.
May 13th, 2011
“we are taking Xbox, Xbox Live, and Kinect to new audiences ”
LMFAO and you xbots are eating it up.
May 13th, 2011
I wonder if PSN off line is sending more PS3 owners to Xbox than Kinect focus is sending xbox owners to PS3. It would be interesting to know.
May 13th, 2011
Reg Hardware is running an article about ps3s getting traded in going up 200% and sales down. What a crapper for sony that some of those people are getting 360s instead. Looks like it will soon be the ps3rd again. Ahh. warms the heart doesn’t it. Ha ha.
Oh and Gunstar. Your nice little list of random words doesn’t actual spell Microsuck! Have you been getting out of school tutoring from Ivan?
May 13th, 2011
Trim the fat.
fat=ADD COD kids.
May 13th, 2011
“I have to admit that is pretty bloody annoying to read M$ is putting so much effort into the Kinect, while not directing the same effort into pushing forward on the hardcore gaming side of things”
Microsoft does not have clear vision for their products, they are no longer a leader, they are a follower and they just want to follow Nintendo’s sucess at all cost (literally).
I’m glad Sony is not focusing on the casual market as much as MS – Hardcore games are their main focus.
May 13th, 2011
It also sucks finding out that expected hardcore games like Codename Kingdoms will be a Kinect title.
May 13th, 2011
So I watched THOR last night. Great movie but I’m regretting seeing it in 3D.
3D didn’t fit in that movie and made it blurry in a lot of it. The story was awesome though. I can’t wait to see Capt. America, Green lantern and the Avenger move.
I wonder it they are making a movie for Giant man, The Pixy, Black Widow, Panther or Hawkeye? There was no clip at the end of the credits in THOR. At least not that I seen. The black widow was in Iron man.
May 13th, 2011
“It also sucks finding out that expected hardcore games like Codename Kingdoms will be a Kinect title.”
Wouldn’t it be funny if Gears turned out to be an on the rails Kinect game? LMAO I would die laughing.
May 13th, 2011
I’m pretty sure that Alan Wake 2 will be a Kinect title if it remains exclusive. Here’s why
Remedy: “this next Wake installment will not be Alan Wake 2. But neither will it be DLC”
Could be a Kinect Spin off (just like the rumored Gears Kinect)
Remedy: “this installment will also give an opportunity for players who aren’t familiar with the franchise to finally jump on board”
This could mean the game will expand its audience by being a Kinect title or a Multiplatform game.
May 13th, 2011
“Remedy: “this installment will also give an opportunity for players who aren’t familiar with the franchise to finally jump on board”
This could mean the game will expand its audience by being a Kinect title or a Multiplatform game.”
and they may have to literally “jump”
May 13th, 2011
@Roca
That statement you quoted doesn’t have any indictation at all that it will be a kinect title.
Basically what it does sound like it is saying is that the new game will not feature Alan Wake as the playable character.
If the game does not star Alan as the main character could it really be called Alan Wake 2? Probably not.
It just seems to me like your really trying so hard to put the kinect spin on this.
May 13th, 2011
IDK Fahkin,
Roca makes a good point. The other option is Multi platform.
I see it more likely that it would just be a Kinect spin off rather than MS allowing a published titles sequel to jump ship.
May 13th, 2011
“That statement you quoted doesn’t have any indictation at all that it will be a kinect title”
why not? A new characters will not excite ‘players who aren’t familiar with the franchise’ if the concept of the game remains the same.
It does sound like it could be a Kinect or MP title…Who knows, it could be Kinect/multiplatform title with a new character. MS pushing Kinect so hard increase the possibility of it being a Kinect game. A-WAKE sounds like a good title for the Kinect spin off
May 13th, 2011
“get your ass to the store and get yourselves a PS3.”
Because nothing says “buy me” like
“8002A203″
May 13th, 2011
Lol @ Carl B. I see you are having some fun with Psn being down.
May 13th, 2011
Lol carlb…
Guys before anyone jumps on him, its all in good fun, but its also the truth:
psn is down….its about to hit one month, sales obviously have been lost this month, prob half of next month…facts….
But, it hasn’t been all bad, I absolutely cannoy wait to:
1. Fuck everyone up in battlefield again….I feel my skillz have diminished and will focus my first week on destroying everybody lol
2. Try my hand on Mortal Kombat online finally…I’ve gotteN as good as I can get on the hardest difficulty setting with kabal, quan chi, kratos, scorpion, sindel, smoke, noob, kitana….wow I’ve been on mk a grip lol
3. Batttlefield
4. Sf and mvc3 brushups
A couple things positive have come out of this psn outage, finally sold my car, bought a street bike….been a good month for me…except for the stupid lakers…
May 13th, 2011
Let me play Portal 2 Sony!!
May 13th, 2011
Dan,
I’ve played the co-op split screen with my gf. It’s pretty great. You’re in for a treat.
Carlb,
If you can engineer/build/test a network for 50 millions users any faster, please let Sony know for us.
May 13th, 2011
“If you can engineer/build/test a network for 50 millions users any faster, please let Sony know for us.”
Well said.
May 13th, 2011
“If you can engineer/build/test a network for 50 millions users any faster, please let Sony know for us.”
And the SDF Flaming Sword of Fire -1 goes to BJ…
First, I hope you know the comment was in jest… at least a few did… but I thought it was a network for 77 million users, and they’re building it from scratch now? But regardless, the joke remains until they do come back online, which can’t be much longer now, right? Maybe just “one or two days longer”
?”!”?
May 13th, 2011
*fingers crossed for Google TV*
May 13th, 2011
Still no PSN!? I want to finish PORTAL! lol.
Oh well, I just started Half-Life 2 again, fps perfection.
May 13th, 2011
God of War Portable Compilation coming to PS3
Chains of Olympus & Ghost of Sparta
http://goo.gl/ySnks
May 13th, 2011
I tell you what I would like to come to the PS3 …the PSN lol.
I’m paying for this free service(joke btw), so I demand Sony to let me play online! lol
May 13th, 2011
They should really make an iPhone app that shows a little red light in the top right or somewhere but turns green the MOMENT the PSN is back up lol.
May 13th, 2011
PSN needs a Phoenix Down
May 13th, 2011
A Phoenix Down followed by an Elixer and maybe a spell from Hermione(I’d prefer a bj from her, but a world full of witches and wizards seems more likely to happen lmao)
May 13th, 2011
Hard to believe Emma is 21…
May 13th, 2011
“PS3 HITS THE BARGAIN BIN
From May 9th to May 29th you can head over to Game-Stop’s Power Up Reward site for a $100 off coupon on a 160 or 320 gig PS3 slim model. Anyone who is currently a member just needs to login and print.”
http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143166
May 13th, 2011
Hard to believe Emma shaved her head in favor of a dyke-chick look lol.
May 13th, 2011
Pretty much every PS3 now can be found at a discount price, I believe Sony is clearing stock for a new model with along with a new price tag.
May 14th, 2011
Probably a 500GB, but I still think they’ll eventually bring out the PSThree.
May 14th, 2011
Has everyone gotten their firmware update yet?
May 15th, 2011
I have.