One of Microsoft’s big pushes with the Xbox One was that it was to feature original TV programming – much in the same way that digital streaming services Netflix and Hulu do. It would have had shows that catered specifically to the Xbox demographic. In fact one game, Quantum Break, even relied on it – using a live action series interweaved with gameplay as its hook. That whole division is being closed.
It means the end of the Steven Spielberg-produced live action Halo series, the rumoured live-action Gears of War, Deadlands, and the new show from Robot Chicken’s creators.
“As part of the planned reduction to our overall workforce announced today and in light of our organization’s mission, we plan to streamline a handful of portfolio and engineering development efforts across Xbox. One such plan is that, in the coming months, we expect to close Xbox Entertainment Studios,” said Xboss Phil Spencer in a memo released yesterday.
Thankfully, Microsoft have confirmed that Remedy’s Quantum Break won’t be affected by Xbox Entertainment’s demise. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed with Polygon that Quantum Break “will be released next year and the game and show both remain on track.”
“The news of Xbox Entertainment Studios has not impacted our progress and we’re excited to share more details of Quantum Break at Gamescom in August.”
It sucks that so many people will be losing their jobs over at Microsoft – and I was actually looking forward to seeing how some of these shows panned out. That said, Microsoft really needs to focus on games more than it needs to focus on TV right now.
[Update]Microsoft has confirmed that at least the Halo TV series will survive the entertainment shutdown.
“Nancy Tellem, Jordan Levin and some of the XES team will stay on and remain committed to original programming already in production like the upcoming documentary series Signal to Noise, whose first installment takes on the rise and fall of gaming icon Atari, and, of course, the upcoming game franchise series Halo: Nightfall and the Halo television series which will continue as planned with 343 Industries.”
Last Updated: July 18, 2014
Hammersteyn
July 18, 2014 at 07:32
…
https://info.examtime.com/files/2013/08/180.jpg
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 18, 2014 at 07:44
BWHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAAAA BRILLIANT!!!!!!!
I can already hear him saying it!
Rince&pop
July 18, 2014 at 08:02
HAHAHAHAHAH!
CAE9872
July 18, 2014 at 08:23
LOL
Kensei Seraph
July 18, 2014 at 08:25
I seriously don’t understand the reference there.
After staring at it on and off for an hour all I noticed is that the board is up-side-down and that the darts look like they have eyes on them.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:26
I’ve been wondering the same thing
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 18, 2014 at 08:29
Guys… 3 x 20 x 3 = ? 🙁
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:32
DOH
Hammersteyn
July 18, 2014 at 08:29
What I said to Kensei
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:47
Yeah I feel super special right now
Hammersteyn
July 18, 2014 at 09:08
😉
Hammersteyn
July 18, 2014 at 08:29
The score on the dart board is 180
HvR - Still dislikes Random.or
July 18, 2014 at 08:32
OOOOhhhhhhhh
BUHAHAHAHAhahaha
ha
ha
mmmmm…..
Rince&pop
July 18, 2014 at 08:30
The score… 0_O
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 18, 2014 at 12:56
Oh Snap!!!
http://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/upload/a7711534.jpg
Hammersteyn
July 18, 2014 at 13:20
XD
Kensei Seraph
July 18, 2014 at 07:39
So I got a Destiny Beta key.
How long do I have to wait before they send through the code?
And what is the third field for? (The one circled in green on the image which you will refresh to see)
Gavin Mannion
July 18, 2014 at 07:43
no idea what that field is for.. have asked Megarom.
Also I suspect your keys should arrive this morning.. will follow up though
Kensei Seraph
July 18, 2014 at 07:45
Thanks.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 18, 2014 at 07:48
Many have already received their keys – check your spam filters and such.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 18, 2014 at 07:49
I don’t have mine yet
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 18, 2014 at 07:55
Have you tried switching it off & on again?
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 18, 2014 at 07:57
NO! THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENIUS TECH SUPPORT IT ARE FIXED NAO!!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 18, 2014 at 08:01
😀 THAT’LL BE 1,000 MICROSOFT POINTS PLEASE!
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 18, 2014 at 08:02
SO MUCH OF HELP YOU TAKE 20000 NAO!!!
Anon A Mouse
July 18, 2014 at 08:05
My my drinks holder keeps squashing my drinks. HELP
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 18, 2014 at 08:07
I would recommended replacing your current servant with a Filipino house boy, they have small hands & that should solve the drink-crushing problem.
Anon A Mouse
July 18, 2014 at 08:10
Maybe one of these butlers might work better?
Rince&pop
July 18, 2014 at 08:12
“This is MS India support, we notice your computer has a virus and would like to help. Please give me your login details” “How?” “Click on my computer” “Eh?” “Click on my computer” “How the fuck am I supposed to do that? You’re in India dammit!”
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:17
GG
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 18, 2014 at 08:27
That reminds me, I haven’t had one of those calls in a while now. They usually come in batches of 4/5.
Rince&pop
July 18, 2014 at 08:29
Yeah. Ingrid had 2 the other day. The second she was told her computer was infected. She managed to keep the Indian girl on the line asking whether the infection was like an STD or more a genetic mishap for a good couple of minutes until the woman hung up 🙂
Anon A Mouse
July 18, 2014 at 08:44
I must be special, I’ve never received a call like that.
Kensei Seraph
July 18, 2014 at 07:53
Vodamail has no spam filters, although it does sometimes have a slightly dodgy delay.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 18, 2014 at 07:57
blegh vodamail
Umar Fong Wong
July 18, 2014 at 07:43
Was actually playing Cold Fear on the Original Xbox, that was a pretty cool system. Had one for a lil while. Played Ninja Gaiden and Sudeki till my eyes bled.
Sux that people are losing jobs
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 18, 2014 at 07:48
Wow that’s actually a pretty big deal – it was one of their big talking points for their ENTERTAINMENT console. Looks like someone at MS HQ realised these things don’t exactly cost Peanuts.
Umar Fong Wong
July 18, 2014 at 07:49
You would think they actually did some risk assessment before hand
Kensei Seraph
July 18, 2014 at 07:53
They did, but it was done by the same people who said always online DRM and mandatory Kinect were a good idea.
Umar Fong Wong
July 18, 2014 at 08:01
Lol…Yeah, lets trust THOSE guys with calculating our risks
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 18, 2014 at 07:54
Well yes, I’m sure they did. But that wouldn’t help when they’re basing all their plans on the Xbone selling like a mofo all over, which it didn’t, & in all likelihood the person in charge with the fancy jacket not contemplating that fantasy not becoming reality.
Umar Fong Wong
July 18, 2014 at 07:59
Yup that was the bases of their risk taking, that the Xbox1 would sell like hot cakes. Seems like an arrogant plan..
Hammersteyn
July 18, 2014 at 07:54
They thought they would sweep America. Too many people bought PS4s instead
Umar Fong Wong
July 18, 2014 at 08:00
Seems they were the ones that got swept away
Anon A Mouse
July 18, 2014 at 07:53
18 000 people loosing their jobs at Microsoft is a very huge issue. I truly feel for those affected. When they got their hands on Nokia I knew some people will lose their jobs but 18 000 is truly huge.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 18, 2014 at 07:54
Yes, when I saw that I thought we’d found one of Geoff’s missing zeroes.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:10
Yeah it’s crazy. Really sad. Such a huge amount of people being let go is a disaster though. How are 18000 people going to find new jobs? That’s not an easy task in this day and age.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 18, 2014 at 13:42
I didn’t expect it to be 18000 though, at the most 5000. I even scoffed at articles that posted the potential of 12 000 people loosing their jobs.
I just hope those who are loosing their jobs in Finland will recover quickly.
Ryanza
July 18, 2014 at 08:04
Why couldn’t Microsoft just make the best video game console they could have made. Sony made a video game console and marketed it to gamers and gamers has been supporting the shit out of the PS4.
The highlights of the Xbox One, DRM, TV, Kinect, with games somewhere down the list. DRM is gone. TV shows are now gone. Kinect is gone. And games, still somewhere down that list.
I really don’t know who the Xbox One is for. Is Xbox One in the TV remote business. Is it in the Netflix streaming business. Is it in the Steam DRM business. Cause it’s clear Xbox One is not in the video game console business. Sony owns that now.
I think Microsoft wanted to take over to many areas in One go. Xbox One. But then Microsoft found out that people wanted a video game console that could just play the fucking games. And now the Xbox One can’t even do that one thing, play the games better than the PS4.
Sorry to the many people losing their jobs. Microsoft went all out and failed. If you can only see the money and can’t see the people and what they want. Sad.
Don’t support DRM.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 18, 2014 at 08:05
Yes to everything you said, except Steam. That’s the one platform that I don’t have issue with
Anon A Mouse
July 18, 2014 at 08:07
They still have online pizza and soft drinks ordering…. I think.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:08
So they just did this to their entire marketing strategy and what the XBone was apparently designed for? :
http://d3dsacqprgcsqh.cloudfront.net/photo/a9dQ4K1_460sa_v1.gif
Rince&pop
July 18, 2014 at 08:10
Good gods, another 180? Any more and they’ll hit the stratosphere. Wasn’t this a HUGE thing when they released it at E3? Poor old foxhound (hell has it been) is going to be crying into his mountain dew stained hanky after reading this. It also begs the question ‘is MS now following SONY’s company model?’
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:13
They know they fluffed it. This is all desperation to try and gain back some ground and profits. It’s just disgusting that it’s led to so many lost jobs.
I will never support Microsoft now. Not after they’ve destroyed so many lives through ignorance and disdain towards their customers
Rince&pop
July 18, 2014 at 08:17
What you said. And yet you have those out there who would tattoo their nipples out of love for them.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:20
I never could understand that level of brand loyalty.
Rince&pop
July 18, 2014 at 08:10
So, I assume this was an idea from the new marketing team?
Ryanza
July 18, 2014 at 08:16
Microsoft said that the PS4 is just a PS3.2. So now with all their selling points gone, is the Xbox One not just a Xbox 360.1.
Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)
July 18, 2014 at 08:21
Another 180!
http://i62.tinypic.com/blwna.gif
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 18, 2014 at 08:22
wow that’s disturbing 0_0
Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)
July 18, 2014 at 08:23
Kazification is never easy to watch
Rince&pop
July 18, 2014 at 08:24
0_O
Hammersteyn
July 18, 2014 at 09:08
Well he is Japanese
1O8OVG
July 18, 2014 at 08:40
Not a 1080 😛
Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)
July 18, 2014 at 08:42
Ooohh! xD
1O8OVG
July 18, 2014 at 08:48
still early 😉
Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)
July 18, 2014 at 08:59
Hey OVG…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 18, 2014 at 13:31
It’s coming! http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr03/2013/3/13/10/anigif_enhanced-buzz-20908-1363185894-4_preview.gif
CAE9872
July 18, 2014 at 08:28
It is a shame for the people; but was this ever seriously going to work? MS are not in films! or TV…
HvR - Still dislikes Random.or
July 18, 2014 at 08:33
” would have had shows that catered specifically to the Xbox demographic”
Well sort off expected how many mom porn videos can they make.
1O8OVG
July 18, 2014 at 08:39
Alan Wake was the last TRUE Microsoft exclusive.
What a long time ago.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
July 18, 2014 at 12:55
We hardly knew ya Microsoft Entertainment Studios :(. Nadella is wielding the “Scythe of Management” like a boss! Here’s a job cut! There’s a job cut! EVERYONE TAKE A JOB CUT!! 18 000 CRITICAL COMBO DAMAGE!!
maxfozzy
July 18, 2014 at 18:29
Halo series is unaffected guys. Everything else is.
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