Phil Spencer, Microsoft
Image: Casey Rodgers / Microsoft

Update: The studio acquisition wars are over? Far from it, as contrary to the comments in the original iteration of this article, Xbox chief Phil Spencer has admitted that Microsoft is still actively seeking out new studios to purchase. Fortunately, the suit pointed out that this isn’t a game of Top Trumps, like some fans seem to believe. “It's not really some kind of PR battle about how many new acquisitions we can put on stage,” he told Eurogamer.net. “Because if we're not building great games, the acquisitions don't matter. But are we done? I don't think so.”

And so it goes on.

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Original Article: Back when your humble host was a wee nipper, forum battle lines were drawn with exclusive games. Online dwellers would spend nary an hour listing out first-party titles for their favourite console, and it was the device with the most high-quality software that rode away into the sunset with a smug sense of satisfaction.

As time has passed – and the number of bonafide exclusives has dwindled – enthusiast gamers have found new territory, most recently in the form of studio acquisitions. This all started with Microsoft snapping up a bunch of studios from the brink of bankruptcy a few E3s ago, and has been a common point of discussion ever since.

Sony, of course, responded with confirmation of Insomniac Games’ purchase – an acquisition, it could be argued, that it should have made many years ago. Either way, it looks like the “war” may finally be over, as Xbox has hinted that it’s “shifting focus” from purchasing developers to a new phase of “execution and delivery”. In other words: it’s time to make some bleeding games.

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan recently ruled out any imminent acquisitions, too, stating that while it’s always on the lookout for great teams, it will only invest in businesses that it feels are the “right” fit. To be honest, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Texas-based team Bluepoint join the Worldwide Studios family eventually, but for now we’ll be happy to see this point of conversation calm down.

[source videogameschronicle.com]