Honorable Mention: Microsoft Studios
The Xbox One was lacking in major first party exclusives in 2016 with only Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3 leaving large, lasting impressions. Yet even so, Microsoft proved to be a more than capable publisher with some forward thinking that is allowing the Xbox brand to reach a lot more than just those who happen to own one of the company’s home consoles.
Microsoft is really pursuing both the console and the PC market quite vehemently with its new Play Anywhere initiative that sees all Microsoft published video games on the Xbox One and Windows 10. It’s a huge endeavor that is changing the way that the Xbox brand is being viewed since it’s no longer tied to specific hardware. Games like Forza Motorsport 6: Apex, Gears of War Ultimate Edition, Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3, Quantum Break, and Killer Instinct: Season 3 helped to give the company a larger footprint in the PC space.
It’s not easy managing where your software is able to be found, with all of the technical challenges that come into play when developing for PC and having to maintain a strong market for your own hardware. It was a risk that not many would take. Yet Microsoft is determined to give fans the freedom of choice in how and where they choose to play, and that is something that is definitely worthy of note.
When you add the focus on the player to the solid lineup that is set for next year (which includes the likes of Scalebound, Halo Wars 2, and Crackdown), it’s clear to see that Microsoft Studios was and is a publisher to watch out for.
