Microsoft Cuts Sports Division News
Derek dela Fuente
20/08/2004
Microsoft announces the closure of the studio behind NFL Fever, NHL Rivals and NBA Inside Drive…
The Seattle Times is today reporting that Microsoft is set to close its sports videogame studio based in Redmond, as a means of cutting down the cost of its Xbox division.
Itās believed the mover will lead to the loss of 76 employees based at the studio, and marks the largest single cut since the Xbox was released in 2001.
A Microsoft spokesperson claimed that there simply wasnāt a need for Microsoft Game Studios to be developing so many titles, given that the Xbox has attracted so much support from third-party developers.
The shock declaration follows an earlier announcement in March, in which Microsoft claimed that no XSN sports titles would be released this year, forecasting todayās statement from the Seattle based publisher.
Itās widely believed that EA signing on to Xbox Live! played some part in the decision, and that it is the latest move by Microsoft in a series of decisions to make the Xbox business profitable.
It has however been claimed that the studio behind the Links and Amped franchises have not been affected by the decision.