Twisted Pixel joins Microsoft

Twisted Pixel, the team behind a number of highly rated Xbox Live and PC titles including ‘The Maw’, ”Splosion Man, and more recently ‘The Gunstringer’ has been bought by Microsoft.

In comments from the Press Release, Matt Booty (General Manager of Microsoft Studios stated –

Microsoft’s a very big company, and you’ve got Twisted Pixel, a relatively smaller developer. We’re very invested that they get to stay who they are, and they get to retain the magic they’ve got as a smaller indie developer. We’d like to leave the golden goose alone, so to speak.”

So, no need to worry that their unique style will be disappearing off into the giant corporation that is Microsoft Game Studios. Their latest title ‘The Gunstringer’ originally began as a downloadable title, before becoming a full retail release (with packed in Fruit Ninja) for a reduced RRP. It seems like this will be more the case going forward, though they still feel at home with downloadable titles as Mike Wilford (Twisted Pixel CEO states –

Ever since the very beginning we’ve done things our way, with our own sense of humour. I think you’re going to see more of the same type of approach to our games, but with greater resources and time. You’re going to see us be able to make bigger games and richer games going forward.”

Now of course you could look back at previous acquisitions by Microsoft including FASA and think that Twisted Pixel may be heading for disaster, but Microsoft Studios’ Corporate Vice President Phil Spencer alleviates our fears saying –

“I lived through the integration of FASA, through Bungie, the integration of Digital Anvil. I can go through the list of studios we’ve worked with. I can honestly say we’ve become better at working with partners and keeping them what they are. In the beginning, it was ‘everybody’s got to move to Redmond, kind of integrate completely into the Microsoft process,’ and that doesn’t always work for every culture. I think you have to keep to the core of ‘What is this partnership about?'”

While Twisted Pixel’s games have only appeared on Microsoft devices, it’s nice to know that they will now have some considerable backing, allowing them to bring their style to a much larger audience with the Microsoft marketing team behind them.

“It is really exciting for us to solidify our long-standing relationship with Microsoft Studios, who we consider to be the leader in digital distribution and creating new innovations in gaming like Xbox LIVE and Kinect. As part of the family of Microsoft Studios we look forward to bringing even bigger and richer experiences to Xbox and Twisted Pixel fans around the world.” – Michael Wilford, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Twisted Pixel

The Gunstringer is currently available for the Xbox 360 and Kinect, and don’t forget to download the free ‘Wavy Tube-Man Chronicles’ downloadable content for some nostalgia kicks!