Phil Spencer has confirmed that Microsoft is closing its Xbox Entertainment Studios as part of a restructuring plan.
The closure will result in a reduction of the company’s planned programming, however Microsoft has confirmed to GameInformer that currently in-development work such as Halo: Nightfall and the Atari Documentary Signal to Noise, will continue. Speaking to Polygon, Microsoft has confirmed that Remedy’s Quantum Break which will feature live action segments, is not affected by this decision.
“As part of the planned reduction to our overall workforce announced today and in light of our organization’s mission, we plan to streamline a handful of portfolio and engineering development efforts across Xbox. One such plan is that, in the coming months, we expect to close Xbox Entertainment Studios,” reads a memo to the Xbox team.
“I am pleased that Nancy [Tellem], Jordan [Levin] and members of the XES team remain committed to new, original programming already in production like the upcoming documentary series ‘Signal to Noise’ whose first installment takes on the rise and fall of gaming icon Atari and of course, the upcoming game franchise series ‘Halo: Nightfall,’ and the ‘Halo’ Television series which will continue as planned with 343 Industries. Xbox will continue to support and deliver interactive sports content like ‘NFL on Xbox,’ and we will continue to enhance our entertainment offering on console by innovating the TV experience through the monthly console updates.”
The Santa Monica-based Xbox Entertainment Studios was opened in February 2013 to “create true interactive content for Xbox and other devices that will change the way entertainment content is experienced and delivered.”
(via GameInformer)