Jeff Grubb, a notable insider in the video game industry believes that Xbox would be testing new studies for possible acquisitions. Currently, Xbox and Microsoft are working with a handful of third-party developers on projects, some of which have not been announced. However, rather than just collaborating on these individual games and ending the relationship, Microsoft could be using these titles as a way to examine whether or not they would like to buy them in the future.
Jeff Grubb shared the details of this idea on a recent episode of his show Grubbsnax that comes through Giant Bomb. At the moment, Xbox has openly announced that it is collaborating with Crystal Dynamics on Perfect Dark, while developer Avalanche Studios is creating Contraband to be published under the Xbox Game Studios brand.
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Xbox would be testing new studies for possible acquisitions
Grubb He said part of the reason he thinks Xbox is testing new studies for potential acquisitions at this point is because Microsoft wants to make “smart purchases.” Specifically, what he means by this is that Microsoft wants to find other studios that naturally work well with the Xbox team. Instead of buying a series of studios outright and gradually integrating them into Xbox Game Studios.
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Of course, the caveat with at least one studio in question, Crystal Dynamics, is that it is currently owned by Square Enix. However, considering the amount of money Microsoft can offer Square in the event of negotiations, it stands to reason that Xbox can buy the study from the outside publisher if the opportunity arises. Additionally, IO Interactive, the company behind the Hitman franchise, is rumored to be working on a title with Xbox as well.