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Microsoft is now committed to having a stable of first-party studios that can produce Xbox (and Windows 10) exclusives that the console sorely needs. And now we heard one good blip of a news regarding this.
Tom Shepherd, previously Technical Director at Rockstar Games, is now working at Microsoft’s new studio The Initiative. Shepherd has been involved with the creation of games such as Red Dead Redemption, Max Payne 3, Grand Theft Auto V and more.
Windows Central spotted Sheperd’s LinkedIn profile that he has moved to The Initiative as of September.
Unlike all the other 4 studios announced at E3 2018, The Initiative is an all-new studio based in Santa Monica, home of other big AAA developers such as Sony Santa Monica (God Of War) and Treyarch (Call Of Duty Black Ops 4). Leading the studio is former Crystal Dynamics head Darrell Gallagher.
While there is no game being announced just yet, The Initiative is set to make “ground-breaking” new IPs, with support and freedom given by Microsoft. Hiring the talent from a developer that has done huge open world games shows that they mean it so.
Source: Windows Central via Game Informer