Xbox Game Studios Head Emphasizes Need for Smaller Games
Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty recently stated that Microsoft is in need of smaller games that can bring prestige and awards to the company. This comes shortly after the announcement of the closure of Tango Gameworks and other Bethesda Softworks studios.
During a town hall meeting with ZeniMax employees, Booty, along with head of ZeniMax studios Jill Braff, discussed the future plans for the division. According to The Verge, Booty expressed the importance of having smaller games in Microsoft’s portfolio that can garner recognition and accolades.
Internal sources close to the situation were surprised by this goal, considering the recent closure of Tango Gameworks, the studio behind the well-received game Hi-Fi Rush.
Booty acknowledged the success of Hi-Fi Rush during the meeting but did not provide further details on the decision to shut down Tango Gameworks. This sentiment echoes comments made by Aaron Greenberg, vice president of Xbox games marketing, who praised the game’s performance following its launch.
Reports from the town hall meeting also revealed that Tango Gameworks had proposed a sequel to Hi-Fi Rush before its closure, while Arkane Austin was in the process of pitching a new single-player game, potentially a new entry in the Dishonored series.
Booty expressed his belief that Microsoft’s studio system was stretched too thin and compared it to spreading peanut butter on bread. The closures of Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin were seen as a way to reallocate resources within the company.