Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Game Studios, wants to allay fears surrounding the fates of subsidiary studios Rare and Lionhead after the publisher closed Ensemble Studios, Shadowrun developer FASA, and UNO maker Carbonated Games.

Speaking to GamesIndustry, Spencer remarked that "the work that those studios are doing [is] incredibly important to [Microsoft]." He offered additional praise for Rare, perhaps in response to recent criticism of the studio. "What studio on the planet signs up for two launch games? That's just crazy," he commented. Read more »

Following yesterday's news that Halo Wars and Age of Empires developer Ensemble Studios would close, publisher Microsoft Game Studios has come forth to defend the decision.

The decision to close the studio was "the right thing for our business at this time," wrote Microsoft Game Studios head Phil Spencer in an internal email obtained by GamesIndustry. Read more »