Microsoft Studios, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp., develops and publishes games for Microsoft consoles and PC. In September 2009, Phil Spencer took over for the retiring Shane Kim as the Corporate Vice President.
The moniker Microsoft Game Studios was introduced in 2002 and lasted until Microsoft unveiled its re-branding as Microsoft Studios at E3 2011. The subsidiary had also been known as Microsoft Game Division and Microsoft Games before 2002.
In addition to publishing games from internal studios, Microsoft Studios often partners with prominent third-party developers, such as Epic, Bioware and Remedy, to publish their IPs exclusively for Microsoft-supported systems.
Current in-house developers are:
Rare (Banjo-Kazooie series, Viva Piñata series, Kinect Sports; acquired in 2002)
Turn 10 (Forza Motorsport series; established in 2001)
343 Industries (Halo 4, Halo Waypoint; established in 2007)
Kids and Lifestyle Entertainment (Xbox Fitness)
The Coalition (Gears of War 4; established in 2012 as Black Tusk Studios)
Connected Experiences (Non-game development)
Mojang AB (Minecraft; acquired in 2014)
Compulsion Games (acquired in 2018)
Ninja Theory (acquired in 2018)
Playground Games (acquired in 2018)
Undead Labs (acquired in 2018)
The Initiative (acquired and established in 2018)
InXile Entertainment, Inc. (acquired in 2018)
Obsidian Entertainment (acquired 2018)
Double Fine Productions, Inc. (acquired 2019)
World's Edge (Age of Empires franchise; established in 2019)