Microsoft Game Studios opens European arm
Microsoft has announced that it is establishing a European base of operations for Microsoft Game Studios. The new publishing arm, based in Reading, will promote MGS games in Europe and manage its relationships with European developers.
Microsoft has announced that it is establishing a European base of operations for Microsoft Game Studios. The new publishing arm, based in Reading, will promote MGS games in Europe and manage its relationships with European developers.
The European office will be headed up by Phil Spencer, general manager of MGS. Spencer arrives in the UK to begin setting up his operation next week.
Spencer will report to Shane Kim, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. Shannon Loftis (director of European production) and Todd Stevens (director of business management) will be the other key members of his team.
The office's Reading location puts MGS in close geographical proximity to two flagship, Microsoft-owned studios - Peter Molyneux's Lionhead, headquartered just down the road in Guildford, and the Twycross-based Rare.
The choice of the UK as base of operations for MGS Europe is also explained by Microsoft's close relationships with three other prominent British developers: Bizarre Creations, Real Time Worlds and Remedy Entertainment. Bizarre's Project Gotham and Real Time Worlds' Crackdown have been big hits for platform-holder, while Remedy's hotly anticipated Alan Wake is an Xbox 360 and Windows exclusive.
"Europe is obviously very important to our platform efforts and an area where have a strong history of working with some of the best game industry talent," Spencer said. "I'm very excited about what weâve accomplished in Europe and I look forward to continuing and strengthening that success by building deeper relationships with the development community here."