In a shocking announcement made late last night, Microsoft confirmed rumors that Age of Empires and Halo Wars developer Ensemble Studios will be shut down as soon as work on Halo Wars is completed. An astonishing decision Microsoft claims to be one that is "fiscally rooted". Wowzaz!
In Microsoft's official statement to the media, Ensemble Studios' closure is addressed, mentioning that after completion of Halo Wars, the "leadership team will form a new studio and has agreed to provide ongoing support for Halo Wars as well as work on other projects with Microsoft Game Studios." Microsoft also makes it clear that they'll "place as many Ensemble employees who do not move to the newly formed studio into open positions within Microsoft" and insists that the studio's closure has nothing to do with "Ensembles talent or the quality of Halo Wars."
What can be said? How random, how unexpected and how troubling it is to hear this news. News that we never would have seen coming. From our early experience with Halo Wars and the Age of Empires franchise, the level of talent the entire Ensemble crew possess is more than apparent as we wish them all the best with their future endeavors.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-10-2008 @ 1:44AM
Kamal said...
I wonder what they will call the new studio, Ensemble Studios Deux?
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9-10-2008 @ 2:07AM
muffinmanlan said...
I am shocked. They need to make an entirely new studio? Halo wars would of got them out of any money problems.
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9-10-2008 @ 2:37AM
MaxB said...
Well not exactly. RTS? Niche, sadly. Oh and there's this game called Starcraft 2 coming out.
9-10-2008 @ 2:11AM
David W said...
Nooooo...there aren't that many cool developers in the Dallas area to begin with :(
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9-10-2008 @ 2:51AM
Magic Whiskey said...
My theory is that Ensemble Studios owes a guy named Bobby 'No Thumbs' Titagliano fifty large from off-track betting and the company just can't ante up.
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9-10-2008 @ 3:36AM
gnik eltrut said...
Did someone say "ante up?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21OH0wlkfbc&feature=related
9-10-2008 @ 3:05AM
ownage4dummys said...
I am seriously CRUSHED, to read this, I have loved all of Ensembles games and Have memories playing age of empires for the last 10 years, I was really hoping that Halo Wars would finally bring the respect and recognition to the RTS genre that it deserves, but with this news the future is uncertain now, I cannot believe this.... I truly think that the Collapse of PC gaming has taken its toll and hit Ensemble, even though the Age series sold well, the Genre and platform are Dead.... leaving me to wonder even if they create a new studio what games could they possibly make? I guess we'll never see Age of empires 4
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9-10-2008 @ 3:06AM
mike said...
and BTW i realize Halo Wars is still coming out but now there is truly no incentive for Ensemble.... RIP
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9-10-2008 @ 3:18AM
BobTheElephant said...
I don't even like RTS games but I must say, this is quite surprising...I can't believe that something like this just happened so seemingly randomly.
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9-10-2008 @ 3:23AM
ryan said...
so what does this mean for possible Halowars DLC/expansions?
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9-10-2008 @ 10:31AM
GalileoAce said...
Exactly what I was pondering...
9-10-2008 @ 4:28AM
Boff said...
This IS surprising. I thought Ensemble Studios were doing ok since they seemed to carve out their own little chunk of the RTS world.
Hope it's not as big a surprise for all their employees, and wish them well.
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9-10-2008 @ 4:59AM
SadisticHam said...
Good, after the suckage that was age of empires 3 they've had there time. Thanks for ruining AOE, 1 and 2 where so awesome.
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9-10-2008 @ 5:23AM
mattclarkie said...
I am definately getting Halo Wars at launch now.
I am suprised MS didn't buy ensemble and make them part of Microsoft Games, they could have used them for both PC and Xbox dev. Unless Ensemble didn't want to be part of MS Games.
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9-10-2008 @ 7:12AM
DHalo said...
They already were a part of MS Games. That's how MS was able to shut them down.
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9-10-2008 @ 7:59AM
MongerKing said...
Why do people always wish others the best in their future endeavors? Sure, it's the polite and decent thing to do, but it's just so damn boring. Just think of the fun you could have if you cursed their names and declared that you wish them nothing but failure and misfortune! I bet saying that would even increase your traffic, thus increasing the revenue you get from advertising. You really can't afford to wish them anything more than the worst.
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9-11-2008 @ 11:51AM
Yamikotai said...
You, sir, deserve a million cookies or more for attempting laughicide on me ^_^
9-10-2008 @ 9:13AM
ExMcloud said...
Ok that just made me happy....I need that game!!!!!
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9-10-2008 @ 9:29AM
Urza said...
Halo destroys every study it touches!
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9-10-2008 @ 9:53AM
Gemini Ace said...
Feels like Shadowrun all over again.
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