Microsoft Vancouver rebranded as Black Tusk Studios, working on "next big entertainment franchise"

Microsoft Vancouver shall henceforth be known as Black Tusk Studios, according to an update on the studio's webpage. The firm has also confirmed to the Vancouver Sun it is "working on Microsoft's next big entertainment franchise."

The studio's mission statement reads as follows:

"Black Tusk Studios is dedicated to creating immersive, AAA games that push the limits of Microsoft's entertainment platforms. Located in downtown Vancouver, Canada, we are part of the Microsoft Studios family, and we are growing.

"Being a first-party studio at Microsoft means having both the mandate and the opportunity to think and act big. All of Microsoft’s studios share the same commitment to innovation and quality, along with support from a world-class global marketing, sales, and distribution organization. As part of the Microsoft Studios family, Black Tusk is able to leverage resources, technology, and experience from other first-party studios such as 343 Industries, Turn 10 Studios, Rare Ltd., Lionhead Studios, Good Science Studio, and Twisted Pixel Games.

"We also share resources and knowledge with BigPark and Microsoft Studios Victoria, two other Microsoft studios located in Vancouver and Victoria respectively. Finally, we collaborate closely with the teams that make Microsoft's entertainment platforms, such as Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and Kinect."

According to studio manager Mike Crump, the firm is working on what it hopes to be the "next Halo" at the newly formed studio.

"We are working on Microsoft’s next big entertainment franchise,” said Crump. “We’re not working on an existing franchise, we’re looking to build the next Halo here in Vancouver, for example, which is really exciting. We are building something from the ground up.

“We have been officially green-lit by Microsoft executives to go ahead with the project that we’re on. That’s the way game development works — it’s just like making a movie, you go through pitching and concepting and then at some point you have a very large meeting with the executive team and present your full pitch with the business plan and you get the green light, so that’s happened for us.”

The firm is currently hiring a User Research Engineer to work with its "team of seasoned game industry veterans who are united in their passion to create emotionally engaging AAA gaming experiences."

You can apply here, whether you are located in Vancouver or someplace else in the world.

Thanks, OXM.