Two years on, Microsoft Studios Victoria shuts down

Nearly two years after Microsoft originally opened a game development studio in Victoria, Canada, the company has now shut the studio down, with around 30 jobs lost according to reports. Microsoft Studios Victoria was opened at the beginning of 2012 and headed up by Christopher Robertson, although Microsoft did not say at the time what the new studio was working on, nor has it since then. The company reasoned that Victoria was partway between Vancouver and Seattle, making it the perfect distance from Microsoft's headquarters. However, nearly two years on the company has now told Times Colonist that it is looking to consolidate its resources. "This was not an easy decision, but one guided by our desire to centralize development in our Vancouver studios," it said in a statement. "We are working closely with all employees affected by this change to identify open positions in other studios, and we remain committed to doing business in British Columbia." Although Microsoft would not say exactly how many jobs were affected, or how many will be moved over to the Black Tusk studio in Vancouver, the report suggests that at least 30 staffers will be out of work.