News Microsoft confirms acquisition of Forza Horizon developer Playground Games
News
Microsoft has confirmed it now fully owns the Forza Horizon developer Playground Games.
Announced shortly after the world premiere of the studio's latest game, Forza Horizon 4, the confirmation comes shortly after it was revealed a senior Microsoft employee had been appointed a director at the Leamington Spa-based developer.
The move also brings about a mild management rejig for the Forza series. While Playground Games' studio management structure will remain intact, the UK game creator will now report to the Studio Head at Forza Motorsport creator Turn 10 Studios, Alan Hartman. In addition, Hartman's role will be expanded to cover the entire Forza franchise, rather than just the core Motorsport series.
Playground Games isn't the only game developer to recently join the Microsoft Studios first-party portfolio. It was confirmed during the Xbox E3 2018 briefing that studios such as the Hellblade creator Ninja Theory are now owned by the industry giant, with Microsoft also confirming it has set up a new studio in Santa Monica named "The Initiative" at E3 2018.
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