Microsoft Vancouver is now Black Tusk Studios, building 'the next Halo'

[Soldier 95B]

Microsoft Studios Vancouver has been rebranded as Black Tusk Studios, and the team is tasked with creating Microsoft's "next big entertainment franchise," or as the layman says it, "the next Halo."

Black Tusk has 55 employees and looks to double that number within a year; those already there have an average of 12 years experience building AAA games. This includes studio manager and former EA man, Mike Crump.


"We are working on Microsoft's next big entertainment franchise," Crump tells The Vancouver Sun. "We're not working on an existing franchise; we're looking to build the next Halo here in Vancouver, for example, which is really exciting. We are building something from the ground up."


Microsoft laid off a small number of people in Vancouver earlier this year, but said it remains invested in the British Columbia games industry. If it's pouring enough money to build another Halo franchise into Black Tusk, we'd say Microsoft is heavily invested, indeed.

This one is for you J3ff3, more core exclusive goodness

BRAND NEW IP from MS? GTFO, hell must have froze over.

Here is the website:

http://blacktuskstudios.com/

[DarkVincent07]

So.... another FPS...

[Soldier 95B]

So.... another FPS...

Not that I would complain, but I didn't read that. I only read they wanted the next huge hit.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Good to see! Yeah I don't think it will be an FPS, I think they meant it will be a hit.

[DarkVincent07]

They want to make something that is like the next Halo, plus with the industry and how MS is these days as well as the populrity of COD, I'd be shocked (and surprised) if it wasn't a shooter

[Ghost-Rhayne]

Hmmm, well, MS kind of plays it safe with its exclusives, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's not a 1st or 3rd person action game of some kind. Good news in any event.

[Nitey]

Hopefully it's a TPS

[F34R]

Anticipation grew....

[MATRIX 2]

So.... another FPS...

Could be an RPG like Mass Effect. Or a Mech game like MechAssault/Mechwarrior.

Was there a specific reason given for the name change?

[radgamer420]

Good to see! Yeah I don't think it will be an FPS, I think they meant it will be a hit.

I read somewhere that it was going to be a space sci fi type shooter. Edit - Here ya go. http://shogungamer.com/news/15050/mi...sci-fi-shooter

[Nitey]

If that rumour is true in the link Rad then consider me slightly underwhelmed .

[radgamer420]

If that rumour is true in the link Rad then consider me slightly underwhelmed .

Yep me too.

[radgamer420]

Hmmm, well, MS kind of plays it safe with its exclusives, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's not a 1st or 3rd person action game of some kind. Good news in any event.

Yep they do which is why I'll most likely go PS4 only next gen.

[Soldier 95B]

I read somewhere that it was going to be a space sci fi type shooter. Edit - Here ya go. http://shogungamer.com/news/15050/mi...sci-fi-shooter

If true, awesome. I love shooters. I can't get enough of them.

[DarkVincent07]

I read somewhere that it was going to be a space sci fi type shooter. Edit - Here ya go. http://shogungamer.com/news/15050/mi...sci-fi-shooter

Yep.. great... so, another Halo ><

Microsoft is going to have to try hard with a good range of exclusives for me to even consider their next console.

[radgamer420]

Yep.. great... so, another Halo >< Microsoft is going to have to try hard with a good range of exclusives for me to even consider their next console.

I agree. Seems that MS is sticking with their play it safe strategy. Pretty sure I'll be going PS4 only next gen.

[shingi70]

How excatly is a unreal engine 4 powered sci-fi horror game like Halo. By becoming the next Halo they mean the next big IP they have.

Eh Microsoft has been beefing up its first party studios and most of them are working on games for probably next gen. That and they have the core publishing groupwhichlooks to be made just to foster third party and 2nd party exclusives for next gen.

But I can understand why some would be going for the Playstation. IF they both happen to hit next fall I'm going with the xbox just because I expect them to try early on in the games front, and I trust their non gaming stuff and overall ecosystem far more than sonys.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk 2

[F34R]

How excatly is a unreal engine 4 powered sci-fi horror game like Halo. By becoming the next Halo they mean the next big IP they have.

Eh Microsoft has been beefing up its first party studios and most of them are working on games for probably next gen. That and they have the core publishing groupwhichlooks to be made just to foster third party and 2nd party exclusives for next gen.

But I can understand why some would be going for the Playstation. IF they both happen to hit next fall I'm going with the xbox just because I expect them to try early on in the games front, and I trust their non gaming stuff and overall ecosystem far more than sonys.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk 2

I agree. It'll definitely be a new IP (I hope lol).

[Soldier 95B]

How excatly is a unreal engine 4 powered sci-fi horror game like Halo.

I wondered the same thing, lol.