Microsoft has purchased Smiling Giant Entertainment to develop more exclusive titles for its gaming subscription service, Xbox Game Pass. Smiling Giant Entertainment is based in Texas and was founded last year, with senior employees featuring experience working on franchise game titles BioShock, Borderlands and Call of Duty. Its team will develop new games and content for the service, with Xbox Game Pass including Halo, Forza Horizon 4 and Minecraft among others. While Microsoft will become more competitive with Sony’s PlayStation Now and EA Play services, Microsoft’s head of gaming Phil Spencer praised the studio’s “high-quality games” in a statement.
Microsoft Acquires Gaming Studio to Boost Xbox Game Pass Offerings
Introduction
Microsoft has announced the acquisition of gaming studio, Smiling Giant Entertainment. The move is aimed at boosting the offerings of Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s gaming subscription service.
Details
Smiling Giant Entertainment is a Texas-based game development studio that was founded in 2020. The studio’s team includes veterans with experience working on popular game franchises like Call of Duty, Bioshock, and Borderlands.
The acquisition of Smiling Giant Entertainment is part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to expand its gaming portfolio and attract more subscribers to Xbox Game Pass. The subscription service gives gamers access to a library of over 100 games for a monthly fee, including popular titles like Halo, Forza Horizon 4, and Minecraft.
By adding Smiling Giant Entertainment to its portfolio, Microsoft aims to offer more exclusive games to its Game Pass subscribers. The studio’s team will work on developing new games and content for the service, with a focus on creating high-quality, narrative-driven experiences.
In a statement announcing the acquisition, Microsoft’s Head of Gaming, Phil Spencer, said “Smiling Giant Entertainment has a talented team with a track record of creating high-quality games, and we’re excited to welcome them to the Xbox family. This acquisition will help us continue to bring great games to our Game Pass subscribers and expand our gaming ecosystem.”
Smiling Giant Entertainment’s co-founder and CEO, Brian Etheridge, added “We’re thrilled to be joining Microsoft and contributing to the Xbox Game Pass vision. We share Microsoft’s passion for creating immersive, unforgettable gaming experiences and we can’t wait to get to work.”
Impact
The acquisition of Smiling Giant Entertainment is a positive development for both Microsoft and Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
For Microsoft, the addition of the studio’s talent and experience boosts its gaming portfolio and helps it compete with rival subscription services like Sony’s PlayStation Now and EA Play.
For Xbox Game Pass subscribers, the acquisition means more high-quality, exclusive games to play, which further justifies the value of the subscription service.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s acquisition of Smiling Giant Entertainment is a strategic move that helps it stay competitive in the gaming industry and enhances the value of Xbox Game Pass for subscribers. It remains to be seen what games and content the studio’s team will create for the service, but gamers can expect exciting new experiences in the future.