Microsoft to acquire independent RPG developers Obsidian and InXile

Microsoft, having actively invested in a wide range of developers to boost its Xbox gaming ecosystem, has recently confirmed the acquisition of InXile and Obsidian, developers of complex RPGs mostly targeted for PC users. These two studios will allegedly be joining the four others that were acquired in June, considerably strengthening the first-party development resources for Xbox.

Apparently, the acquisitions were announced at Microsoft’s XO18 event along with a number of other interesting developments for Windows and Xbox One gaming platforms. Larry Hyrb, Director of Programming for Xbox, popular by his alias Major Nelson, welcomed both to the Microsoft Studios team of owned but independent developers.

Amongst the two studios, Obsidian is supposedly more popular, due to Fallout: New Vegas which is a present day classic of the open world genre. The company’s Pillars of Eternity and its extensive sequel are a welcoming revival of the classic isometric PC role-playing game.

InXile, on the other hand, is seemingly a little more niche, though also successful with games like Bard’s Tale, Torment and Wasteland that are similarly liked by RPG lovers. Like the other studios in Microsoft’s stable, these two will not be absorbed into some internal unit and will be provided considerable operational independence.

Records show that the tech giant had announced the acquisition of Playground Games, Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and Compulsion in June. According to experts, it is clear through the recent acquisitions that the company is increasing focus towards core PC gamers.

Purportedly, the company has a mixed mission in which it wants to guarantee the success of Xbox One and consoles, and also wants to bring in the vast consumers of PC gamers into the fold somehow. This will evidently assist in offsetting the significant and decisive lead that Sony has in the ongoing console wars.