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Microsoft cuts Xbox Entertainment Studios [La Prensa (San Antonio, TX)]
[July 28, 2014]

Microsoft cuts Xbox Entertainment Studios [La Prensa (San Antonio, TX)]


(La Prensa (San Antonio, TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) At E3 2014 it looked as if Xbox Entertainment Studios, a studio that was going to put out new and original content exclusive to Xbox, was the next big thing for Xbox.

However, it's not going to happen after all, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Microsoft dropped a bombshell announcing that they will be eliminating over 18,000 jobs over the next 12 months.

Following a lukewarm response to Xbox Entertainment Studios, Microsoft has trimmed the fat within that branch and will also be dropping its involvement in Nokia phones that were being powered by Google Inc.

When CEO Satya Nadella was brought in, he made it clear that he was going to be cleaning house on things that weren't propelling the company forward.

This struck fear into the hearts of Xbox fans who were speculating that maybe he would come in and put the popular game console on the chopping block, considering Xbox One's weak sales in comparison with the PlayStation 4.

The good news is that now Microsoft can focus on just the games, the bad news is that Xbox will not hold exclusivity to the live action Halo series being produced by Steven Spielberg.

This news comes too close after Microsoft abandoned the Kinect integration when they began offering a cheaper $399 package that didn't include the very thing they said would be their future of gaming and entertainment. The good news, however, at least for Microsoft is that since the "Kinect-less" package began being offered Xbox sales have doubled.




Microsoft has become the kings of not sticking to their word, recently. Last year they announced their DRM policy and then quickly changed the policy due to an outcry of fans who disagreed with the idea. That was followed by the abandonment of the Kinect and Xbox Entertainment Studios. All this occurred after a huge announcement that Xbox was going to be more than games and maybe a rival in the video-streaming arena.


So, with all the pluses and minuses that these things offer, some may question if Microsoft is in financial trouble .The simple answer is, nope. They are doing outstanding financially. Nadella is said to be just making the company more efficient as a whole.

However, as a long time Xbox fan this better mean that we are about to see a rush of great games and more original and exclusive titles in the near future because the bigger picture and the numbers game means very little to avid gamers.

As comedian Eddie Izzard once said, "give us cake or death" Xbox fans might soon be demanding games or the death of a console... and maybe cake too.

By Trey Hilburn III eloy@laprensasa. com (c) 2014 La Prensa San Antonio

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