Microsoft has officially acquired the rights to the Gears of War franchise and is looking to reinvigorate the brand.
The long-running Gears of War shooter franchise has officially changed hands with the rights to the series passing from Epic Games over to Microsoft. A new studio hire who some Microsoft fans might recognize will help bring the Gears of War series into the next generation of gaming.
New Gears of War titles will now be developed by Microsoft subsidiary Black Tusk Studios and Rod Fergusson, who first began his game development career with Microsoft before heading over to Irrational Games in 2012 to help with Bioshock Infinite, has now come back to Microsoft to help Black Tusk in what has been labeled as a “key leadership role.” Microsoft isn’t quite ready to announce what the future has in store for Gears of War but more info should be made available sometime this year.
Microsoft’s vice president Phil Spencer was also careful to clarify that the trailer Black Tusk created and debuted at last year’s E3 was merely a concept piece and not an actual in-development game. After the lukewarm reception of the latest Gears title, Gears of War: Judgment, Microsoft is likely eager to reinvigorate the franchise but, with Black Tusk and Fergusson at the helm, it also sounds like the publisher isn’t afraid to take its time making sure the quality and polish of the next Gears game is up to par with fan expectations.
