The Xbox 360 casualty sheet: 45 companies that didn't survive this generation

Remembering those who didn't make it
It's been a long, hard generation: financial crises, increased competition from tablets and mobile, the rise of certain mega-franchises severely limiting the success of other games' multiplayer modes. There's been a brutal shift in business models over the course of the Xbox 360's life. Spiralling development costs and uncertain returns have taken many companies to the wall; the loss of the "b-game" mid-market titles has taken down publishers and studios alike.

[BadboyCivic]

Sony Liverpool? THQ?

I bash MS for the things they have done wrong. I don't blame them for everything gone wrong.

[dirigiblebill]

"I don't blame them for everything gone wrong."

Nor does the article.

[gaffyh]

Thing with Sony though, is that even though Sony Liverpool has closed, the IPs still exist, and they could make (and probably will) sequels to the franchises that Sony Liverpool developed.

[Bathyj]

yeah, it must be one of those Sony fanboy sites.

oh wait...

[DragonKnight]

Oh BadboyCivic.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

Well the next gen would have been so locked down if MS had their way.

[ColdFeet]

Maybe I'm just knitpicking this list but when they talk about Clover Studios, they don't even mention Okami. God Hand is hardly the reason Clover Studios were considered creative.

[Cmk0121]

This is just so ignorant. 3rd party companies closing because of one console? Just beyond imagination the amount of fanboy write ups allowed on this site. def jam fighting game failed causing it to not make more games...SHOCKER. good games sell crap games dont simple as that.

[DragonKnight]

Official Xbox Magazine wrote this. Are you saying that Official Xbox Magazine is a Sony fanboy magazine?

[WrAiTh Sp3cTr3]

...

[Welcome2Die]

lol owned.

[die_fiend]

So ignorant? So when you say good games sell are you saying Okami isn't good? Or viewtiful joe? Def jam was fun back in the day

[Killzoner99]

Just goes to show you Microsoft is circling the drain and they're trying to take everyone down with them. They're done.

[DiRtY]

Yeah.

Sony Liverpool
BigBig
Zipper

ring a bell?

[GameCents]

The article is about developers that used to work on xbox games, multiplats included, that have not made it through for whatever reason.
This isn't about the studios that closed because of Microsoft. Heck SONY is involved in the demise of more studios this gen than any other console maker.

[Killzoner99]

These are 45 companies that went out of business because of Microsoft. Sony only shut down a handful of devs this generation. The fact is Microsoft is destroying the industry while Sony is innovating and rebuilding it. "The Last of Us" alone has done more for the industry than Microsoft has ever done. Microsoft works with the NSA to spy on consumers with the required Kinect. That should be enough for you to see how evil they are.

[dirigiblebill]

@Killzoner99

"These are 45 companies that went out of business because of Microsoft."

Hilarious. Literally all you have to do is read the intro paragraph, right there at the top of this page, to understand that this isn't what the article's saying at all.

[coolasj]

I miss Pandemic the most.

[rustyspoon80]

The article isn't saying MS have caused these studios to close, its just taken from the official xbox magazine.

[MWH]

sad stuff, a little..

[Double_O_Revan]

Wow. I knew there were a lot of companies that went under, but I didn't know it was That serious. Its a shame to see so many close down. Many were responsible for some amazing games, this gen and previous.

Looking at the dates of the companies, you see it doesn't matter how long you've been around this business, old or new startup, all it takes is a few bad games/ decisions to bring you down. Sad.

[GABRIEL1030]

Eidos Hungary and Ensemble Studios were great studios, games like Battlestations and Halo wars are great examples of an amazing job, this is sad. :(

[CalamityCB]

Ladies and Gentleman, we have gathered here to respect those who have been lost in the 7th generation of video games. Let us cast away our differences and royalties, whether or not you are a Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo or PC gamer, all that is needed is our memories of these legendary companies and our duty to never forget the marks that they have made on the gaming fabric.
These companies may be gone from reality, but they will always be alive in the memories they have given us.

[SonyPS4]

The 7th generation is by far the worst post 16-bit generation ever. What a mess.

[CalamityCB]

We've had some hit and misses but in the end, what a ride it was!

[MWH]

nice speech, you have my vote.

[kma2k]

Pandemic hurts the worst, the sabateur is without a doubt they most underated game of this gen. I have also loved the destroy all humans series