After a streak of major studio and writer purchases, Microsoft’s acquisition spree reached its peak with the $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard, effectively silencing whispers about further deals within the Xbox camp. Despite this, it appears Microsoft will continue to expand its in-house game development capabilities by acquiring and integrating additional studios into its portfolio.
According to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, speaking with Bloomberg, the company continues to explore potential acquisitions, with a focus on expanding its presence in Asia to add “geographic variety” and considering specific mobile game studios among other targets.
“We’re eager to bring our presence to the market, but only when we find synergies with groups, expertise, or functionalities that complement our gaming efforts at Microsoft,” he said.
It’s worth noting that Microsoft has a long history of partnering with Asian studios, including first-party developer Tango Gameworks, which was shuttered by the company just last year before being revived and acquired by Krafton.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Tango Gameworks must be preceded by a thorough assessment of the studio’s internal dynamics and financial health, particularly in light of recent layoffs and closures within the company’s first-party studios.
