Earlier this year Microsoft revealed many games early in development from its internal studios at its Xbox Games Showcase event. Studios such as Obsidian Entertainment, Playground Games, Rare, and 343 Industries showcased upcoming titles coming to Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Game Pass. One company noticeably absent from the event was The Initiative, the internal Microsoft studio focused on making first-party exclusive titles, which Phil Spencer has once again hyped up.

The Initiative was founded in 2018 in Santa Monica, California with the intention of developing a "AAAA" single-player action game for Microsoft. Microsoft has continued its acquisitions, most recently acquiring ZeniMax Media for $7.4 billion, introducing 8 new studios to the Xbox Game Studios family including Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, Arkane Studios, and Tango Gameworks.

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Speaking to GameReactor in a recent interview, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer was asked which of Xbox Game Studios' unannounced games he is most excited for the public to see, to which he responded "I'm gonna give you two if that is okay? One of them is Compulsion. When I first saw We Happy Few, there was an art style and a setting that I thought was really unique. It's a young studio and they are still growing and learning the craft of what they are as a team." Microsoft announced the acquisition of Compulsion Games during its E3 2018 press conference. Spencer continued "But looking at what they're gonna do next, I love their ability to create new worlds and unique settings. That is always something that is fun. So without saying too much that is one of them."

Commenting on The Initiative, Spencer claimed "The other one I would say is The Initiative. Which is our studio in Santa Monica. I've played what they are doing next. Just the talent we have been able to bring into that studio led by Darryl Gallagher is amazing, especially when you bring such an amazing group of creators together, and create such a culture that Darryl is working to create there."

While The Initiative's game has not yet been revealed, recent rumors have pointed towards it being either a full reboot of Rare's Perfect Dark series, or at least being set in the same universe as the original Nintendo 64 title and its Xbox 360 prequel. The studio has brought on many talented staff from a variety of studios including Crystal Dynamics, Naughty Dog, and Bungie. Head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty claimed at the end of 2019 that The Initiative's game would be revealed during 2020, but unless the game shows up at The Game Awards 2020, this seems unlikely.

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Source: GameReactor