Brute Force developer closes its doors

Digital Anvil, a company formed by Wing Commander designer Chris Roberts and acquired by Microsoft Game Studios in 2000, has closed its doors, with staff being redeployed to the MSGS headquarters in Redmond.

Formed in 1996, the small developer worked on its first PC and Dreamcast title, Starlancer, for four years. Shortly afterwards, the studio was acquired by Microsoft Game Studios and its founder promptly moved into a consultancy role while pursuing other projects.

Two of the studio's projects at the time, Loose Cannons and Frontier Wars, were sold to Ubisoft, and the developer focused its attention on developing PC only title, Brute Force, for the Xbox console exclusive. Freelancer, arguably the studio's most accomplished and acclaimed title for the PC, was also released in 2003.

The studio had remained relatively quiet after the release of Freelancer and Brute force, and it would seem the curtain has finally fallen as Microsoft arranges a redeployment of its resources within the MSGS group.

"Microsoft Game Studios has undergone a redeploying of resources in its Austin, Texas-based Digital Anvil studio and will centralize the studio's resources in Redmond, Washington," the company said in a statement.

"We are working closely with current Digital Anvil employees to place each team member in a position on the Microsoft Game Studios team in Redmond if they so choose. This redeployment of resources will be finalized on January 31, 2006."

No details regarding any current or unfinished projects for the studio were revealed.