Microsoft Acquires Undead Labs, Playground Games, Ninja Theory, and Compulsion Games

[Shawn Zipay]

During Microsoft's E3 2018 conference, Phil Spencer announced some new acquisitions for the Xbox division. First up is word that Microsoft opened up a new game studio called The Initiative. They are based out of Santa Monica. Let's hear a bit more about them from Darrell Gallagher, The Initiative's studio head.

In addition, Microsoft also announced that they have acquired a number of other studios. These studios are Undead Labs (State of Decay), Playground Games (Forza), Ninja Theory (Hellblade), and Compulsion Games (We Happy Few).

If you already thought that Undead Labs and Playground Games were already owned by Microsoft, you wouldn't be alone. The real surprises here are the acquisitions of Ninja Theory, the studio behind Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, and Compulsion Games, the studio behind the upcoming We Happy Few.