Rumor: Ensemble to close after Halo Wars [update]

by James Ransom-Wiley { Sep 9th 2008 at 5:10PM }

Multiple unnamed sources have allegedly confirmed that Ensemble Studios will be shuttered upon completion of Halo Wars, reports Shacknews. Layoffs have reportedly struck staff not currently working on the project, while Microsoft, Ensemble's parent company, has supposedly offered incentives to those employees critical to the Halo-themed RTS, goading them to stick around. We'll hit you with an update as soon as we've got one.

Update: Confirmed.

Tags: breakingnews, ensemble, halo-wars, rts

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tephlon @ Sep 9th 2008 5:15PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

*cry*

=(

Jakka(Free Mr.ESC!) @ Sep 9th 2008 5:24PM

Don't worry, it's not like they're out of job. Which kind of a company wouldn't want to have Ensemble staff working for them!?

Hopefully they'll go to Relic and work on new DoW.

Ignatius @ Sep 9th 2008 5:23PM

Thanks for making our game, in appreciation, here is your assorted gifts, an extra bonus in your paycheck and your pinkslip. Get the hell out.

Ah, Microsoft, so kind to its underlings.

Jake11 @ Sep 9th 2008 5:24PM

that's too bad. i really love the age of empires series. They were my first RTS games.

Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Sep 9th 2008 5:25PM

But... but... *sob* just give me a remake of Age of Empires 2.... *sob*

Linkman2004 @ Sep 9th 2008 8:50PM

Amen, brother. Best game in the series.

Pixelantes Anonymous @ Sep 9th 2008 5:29PM

I'm sure the Ensemble guys really are appreciating the Microsoft bigwig, who canceled the Halo MMO project they were working.

That one showed some real long-term strategic vision.

jeff @ Sep 9th 2008 5:30PM

Why is microsoft getting rid of all of their first party developers.

Bizzare
FASA
Bungie

And now Ensemble, I think there are more, I just cannot remember.

Corbo @ Sep 9th 2008 6:11PM

They seem to be much more concerned about IPs than developers. They kept Halo when Bungie went, PGR when Activision bought Bizarre and I think they've still got a few of the FASA IPs (Crimson Skies and maybe some others). If this rumour's true, they'll presumably still have all the "Age Of..." rights.

Someone really ought to explain to them what can happen to a brand when the good products aren't there to back it up. Maybe someone should put them in touch with Sonic Team...

J.Goodwin @ Sep 9th 2008 7:04PM

Bizarre was never owned by Microsoft, and even while they were doing PGR for Microsoft, they were still doing multi-platform titles for other publishers.

Sad to see Ensemble go, you have to wonder why...seemed like they had nothing but successes.

Sean @ Sep 9th 2008 8:42PM

Why?

Because MS is a business and it needs it's seperate divisions to make money for the shareholders. I assume they are trying to reduce costs to help offset the cost for the xbox price cuts recently announced.

It looks like MS believes that first party titles are better created with independent third parties under contract.

It sucks. I too work for the big corporate machine and shareholders is all that management ever seems to think about. I hope those laid off find new jobs soon, the holidays are far too near.

Jakka(Free Mr.ESC!) @ Sep 9th 2008 5:30PM

In all honesty, I'm not sure why MS would want to close Ensemble in first place.Unless they simply intend to transfer them to a different studio or do as little as rename their company, I think it's better to stick to the "RUMOR!!!" part of the story.

Ghost @ Sep 9th 2008 5:31PM

Well that gives a good feeling about this game.

Damn it,Age of empires 2 and its expansion was one of the best games I've ever played.

Oh yeah

REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ

If its right it should say AOE Age of Empires FTW.

REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZREZ REZ
REZ REZ REZ REZ REZ

Ghost @ Sep 9th 2008 5:33PM

Why this stuff never works in Joystiq.

I'm gonna miss them.

Jakka(Free Mr.ESC!) @ Sep 9th 2008 5:33PM

I believe, we're gonna have to report you.It hurts us, but it's for your own safety.

Dr. Stabbingworth @ Sep 9th 2008 9:30PM

I liked Mr. ESC, but you're giving them a really good reason to never unban you, and I don't blame them.

WhoMe @ Sep 9th 2008 5:32PM

Hrm, kinda weird in the age of "3rd party exclusives don't matter, 1st parties is where it's at".

You'd think they'd be stomping MORE studios out of the ground instead of shutting them down.

I mean, MS has money, right?

Erwos @ Sep 9th 2008 6:04PM

That's because it's BS, and Microsoft knows it. Where do you think a third party is going to put most of their effort - on a platform with strong first party games, or one with very few? Think about it.

Clinton oxendine @ Sep 9th 2008 5:35PM

wwwwwwwoooooooowwwww i didnt think they would do that to a studio thats making that game out of all the ones they could choose from. now who will we rely on for good halo games. i know one studio that we cant gear...

Karamo17 @ Sep 9th 2008 5:40PM

the thing i see from this and from the Bungie situation is that developers don't like working directly for Microsoft as their publisher, they just rather work with MS as a publisher period. It also makes me wonder what other companies might think of this and the Bungie matter. If this happens to be true and I was a developer that MS wanted to buy I don't think i would accept their offer, money is good but not if I don't enjoy doing what i love doing.

Delgado @ Sep 9th 2008 5:49PM

I think a lot of you guys are looking into this too much. Bungie even said they liked working for Microsoft, and MS still has a few publishers under their belt.

Not all business decisions are ominous.

Phantom @ Sep 9th 2008 5:47PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

who will make age of empires 4 . *sob* *sob*

the saddet part is that I really do feel like starting to sob for real .

Christian @ Sep 9th 2008 5:49PM

Sounds weird. Unless they think Halo Wars sucks, and thus concluding that the studio doesn't got any talent anymore, why on earth would they close this studio? And even if they do think it sucks, why keep it going to finish the game? This got to be a false rumour.

capt_carl @ Sep 9th 2008 5:52PM

D:

Poor Ensemble. May you join the awesomeness ranks of FASA and Origin.

Churchy @ Sep 9th 2008 5:52PM

It seems like a bad idea to cause drama at a studio before they're finished with a big game.

Wouldn't it make sense to like, wait until these guys are actually done to break do this?

Nineset @ Sep 9th 2008 6:01PM

Well, probably means no download content just like shadowrun. Very disappointing.

Jacksons @ Sep 9th 2008 7:45PM

What the hell? That rumor better be false.

Neil @ Sep 9th 2008 7:47PM

Wow...this seems so crazy. Are RTS's on the down these days?

SpikeDelight @ Sep 9th 2008 7:52PM

Develop like there's no tomorrow, Ensemble! Oh wait, there is no tomorrow!

insertnamehere @ Sep 9th 2008 9:00PM

I call BS. The Age series is still pretty lucrative and on going (Age3 is still in top sellers and they just produced a second x-pack that sold quite well), plus they have a new IP that is being pushed hard by MS. Maybe ES and Big Huge Games (also a MS owned RTS-maker) are being merged, and the layoffs are because of that, but Microsoft would be retarded to shoot one of their golden geese.

Matt @ Sep 10th 2008 3:55PM

MS owns HALO....
ms is learning from nintendo and sega that IP and owning a franchise is very important and can mean making money for many years to come from 1 name.
running a studio costs millions yearly.
keeping an IP stored in a safe costs nothing.