Robot Entertainment Developing Halo Wars Content, New IP

Robot Entertainment, a new developer comprised of former Ensemble Studios employees, formally announced its launch and revealed that it is developing its own original IP. Gamasutra revealed last week that Ensemble's co-founder and CEO Tony Goodman helped establish Robot in Plano, Texas and now serves as CEO for the company. The new studio's staff of 45 is comprised entirely of former Ensemble employees. Though Robot did not provide any details on its original IP under development, the studio says it is working with Microsoft Game Studios to create additional Halo Wars content and "support online gaming and community for both Age of Empires and Halo Wars." "The video game industry is in a state of upheaval, not just games, but the entire landscape," says Goodman. "Everything is changing: where we buy games, how we buy games, how much we pay, how long we play, who we play them with. Founded in 1995 and known mainly for its Age of Empires series of PC-themed strategy titles, Ensemble was closed by parent company Microsoft after development on Xbox 360 RTS Halo Wars was completed, a move described by the platform holder as "a fiscally-rooted decision that keeps [Microsoft Game Studios] on its growth path." "As a fast-moving independent team of game developers, industry leaders and market experts, Robot Entertainment is ideally positioned to play a transformative role in the industry’s future," says Goodman.