Editing Ensemble Studios

{{about|the video game development company|the acting studio and related theatre company in Sydney, Australia|Ensemble Theatre}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{short description|American video game developer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Ensemble Studios
| logo = Ensemble Studios Logo.svg
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| defunct = {{end date and age|2009|01|29}}
| fate = Defunct
| founder = [[Tony Goodman]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| products = ''[[Age of Empires]]''<br />''[[Age of Mythology]]''<br />''[[Halo Wars]]''
| owner = [[Microsoft]]
| num_employees = 
| parent = [[Microsoft Studios|Microsoft Game Studios]]
| subsid = 
| caption = 
| slogan = 
| foundation = {{start date and age|1994}}
| location = [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], [[United States|U.S.]]
}}

'''Ensemble Studios''' was an American [[video game developer]]. It was founded by [[Tony Goodman]] in 1994 and incorporated the following year. It borrowed the name of Ensemble Corporation, a consulting firm founded by Goodman in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p18.html |title=GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 18 of 19 |first=John |last=Keefer |date=March 31, 2006 |website=[[GameSpy]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133145/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p18.html |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was acquired by [[Microsoft]] in 2001 and operated as an internal studio until 2009, when its development capabilities were officially disbanded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2715282.html |title=Microsoft to acquire Ensemble Studios |work=GameSpot |access-date=May 3, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214185016/http://www.gamespot.com/news/2715282.html |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> Ensemble developed many [[real-time strategy]] games, including the ''[[Age of Empires]]'' game series, ''[[Age of Mythology]]'', and ''[[Halo Wars]]''. In addition to game development, Ensemble Studios also made the [[Genie Engine|Genie Game Engine]] used in ''[[Age of Empires (video game)|Age of Empires]]'', ''[[Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings]]'', and ''[[Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds]]''. The studio sold 20 million games and was worth an estimated $500 million.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/death-ensemble-studios/|title=The Death of Ensemble Studios|date=February 20, 2009|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|access-date= November 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307083024/http://www.edge-online.com/features/death-ensemble-studios|archive-date=March 7, 2012|df=mdy}}</ref>

==Games==
Ensemble Studios developed the ''[[Age of Empires]]'' game series of [[real-time strategy]] titles, comprising ''[[Age of Empires (video game)|Age of Empires]]'', ''[[Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings]]'' and ''[[Age of Empires III]]''. They also released ''[[Age of Mythology]]'', a spin-off from the original series. [[Expansion pack]]s were also released for all their games including two for ''Age of Empires III''. Their last release was the real-time strategy game called ''[[Halo Wars]]'' for Xbox 360.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Release<br> Date
! Title
! Genre
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Age of Empires (video game)|Age of Empires]]''
| [[real-time strategy]]
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome]]''
| [[expansion pack]]
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings]]''
| real-time strategy
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Age of Empires II: The Conquerors]]''
| expansion pack
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Age of Mythology]]''
| real-time strategy
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Age of Mythology: The Titans]]''
| expansion pack
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Age of Empires III]]''
| real-time strategy
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs]]''
| expansion pack
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties]]''<ref>Co-developed with [[Big Huge Games]].</ref>
| expansion pack
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Halo Wars]]''
| real-time strategy
|-
| rowspan="6"| Cancelled
| ''Titan'' (''Halo'' MMO)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20153|title=Exclusive: Ensemble Studios' Canceled Project Was Halo MMO|date=September 23, 2008|publisher=GamaSutra|access-date=September 24, 2008|df=mdy|archive-date=November 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110174502/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20153|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/30784486@N04/sets/72157607452469273/|title=Ensemble Games prototype; 2005-2007 (Pictures)|date=December 9, 2007|publisher=Flickr|access-date=September 24, 2008|df=mdy|archive-date=September 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926181902/http://www.flickr.com/photos/30784486@N04/sets/72157607452469273/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[massively multiplayer online game]]
|-
| ''Sorcerer''<ref name="lasttour-Gama">{{cite web |last=Zelfden |first=Evan Van |date=February 2, 2009 |title=Ensemble Studios: The Last Tour |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/ensemble-studios-the-last-tour#close-modal |access-date=February 3, 2009 |publisher=Gamasutra |df=mdy |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827110906/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/ensemble-studios-the-last-tour#close-modal |url-status=live }}</ref>
| fantasy-adventure [[role-playing game|RPG]]
|-
| ''Nova''<ref name="lasttour-Gama"/>
|
|-
| ''Wrench''<ref name="lasttour-Gama"/><ref name="sevendemo-video">{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVKKzNA2MWU  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/RVKKzNA2MWU| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live| title=Ensemble Studios - "Wrench" Prototype Graphics/Physics Demo | date=October 9, 2014 | access-date=January 8, 2014 | website=youtube.com | df=mdy}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
| [[platform game]]
|-
| ''Bam''<ref name="lasttour-Gama"/>
|
|-
| ''Agent''<ref name="lasttour-Gama"/>
|
|-
|}

==Closure and legacy==
In 1998, [[Rick Goodman]] left Ensemble Studios and started a new independent studio, [[Stainless Steel Studios]].

In 2000, [[Brian Sullivan (game designer)|Brian Sullivan]] left Ensemble Studios and started a new independent studio, [[Iron Lore Entertainment]], to develop the action role-playing game ''[[Titan Quest]]''.

In 2001, Microsoft acquired Ensemble Studios for $100 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 4, 2001 |title=Dallas creators of PC gaming hit Age of Empires bought by Microsoft |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2001/04/30/daily39.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624170222/http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2001/04/30/daily39.html |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2016 |work=[[Dallas Business Journal]] |quote=Microsoft Corp. has agreed to buy Ensemble Studios Inc., the Dallas-based software developer responsible for the top-selling Age of Empires game franchise. Microsoft, of Redmond, Wash., said Friday that Ensemble will continue to create titles from its Dallas headquarters. |df=mdy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Lisa|last=Tanner|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/02/18/focus3.html|title=Ensemble's success spurred acquisition by Microsoft|newspaper=[[American City Business Journals|Dallas Business Journal]]|date=February 17, 2008|access-date=October 29, 2020}}</ref> Ensemble remained at their original location in a high-rise office in Dallas, Texas, until April 2008 when Microsoft moved them to [[Legacy_West#The_Shops_at_Legacy_East|the Shops at Legacy]] in [[Plano, Texas|Plano]], the same location as [[GearBox Software]]. {{Citation needed|reason=GearBox was never located in the Shops at Legacy.|date=January 2017}}  Their office was 50,000 square feet and designed to house 120 employees.<ref>{{cite news |last=Webster |first=Stephen |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/12/24/daily14.html |title=Ensemble Studios moving to Plano |work=[[Dallas Business Journal]] |date=December 27, 2007 |access-date=January 28, 2016 |quote=Ensemble Studios ... plans to relocate its operations to the Shops at Legacy in Plano, according to published reports. |df=mdy |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625020554/http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/12/24/daily14.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, Ensemble announced that it would close after the release of ''[[Halo Wars]]'' in 2009. According to multiple independent reports, all non-essential staff were laid off and remaining staff were given incentives to remain until the completion of the project.<ref name="ensembleclosing">{{cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/article/54648/rumor-halo-wars-dev-ensemble | title = Ensemble Studios rumoured to be closing | work = Shacknews | date = September 9, 2008 | access-date = January 8, 2017 | df = mdy | archive-date = January 9, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170109021956/http://www.shacknews.com/article/54648/rumor-halo-wars-dev-ensemble | url-status = live }}</ref> Microsoft issued an internal statement on September 10, 2008 which was then leaked to the public.<ref name="ensembleclosureconfirmation">{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5047753/read-the-ensemble-youre-done-here-email-from-microsoft | title = Read the 'Ensemble Studios, You're Done Here' Email from Microsoft | work = Kotaku | date = September 10, 2008 | access-date = January 8, 2017 | df = mdy | archive-date = January 9, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170109113235/http://kotaku.com/5047753/read-the-ensemble-youre-done-here-email-from-microsoft | url-status = live }}</ref>

The company shut down on January 29, 2009.<ref name=ensemblestudiosblog>{{cite web | url = http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2009/01/16/halo-wars-on-schedule-wrapping-up-soon.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090119012959/http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2009/01/16/halo-wars-on-schedule-wrapping-up-soon.aspx | archive-date = January 19, 2009 | title = Bruce Shelley : Halo Wars on Schedule - Wrapping up Soon | work = Ensemble Studios Blog | access-date = January 21, 2009 | url-status = dead | df = mdy}}</ref>  It was also stated at the time that at least two new studios were being formed by ES employees.<ref name=ensemblestudiosblogentry>{{cite web | url = http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2008/09/22/ensemble-studios-closing.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081118194620/http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2008/09/22/ensemble-studios-closing.aspx | archive-date = November 18, 2008 | title = Bruce Shelley : Ensemble Studios Closing | work = Ensemble Studios Blog | access-date= January 21, 2009 | url-status = dead | df = mdy}}</ref>

In February 2009, former Ensemble Studios head [[Tony Goodman]] started a new independent studio, [[Robot Entertainment]], and a number of the existing employees have been offered a position in this company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/ensemble-veterans-form-robot-entertainment|title=Ensemble Veterans Form Robot Entertainment|publisher=Gamasutra|date=February 13, 2009|access-date=January 8, 2017|df=mdy|archive-date=November 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109110337/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22133|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the announcement of Robot Entertainment, former Ensemble Studios producer David Rippy started a new independent studio, [[Zynga Dallas|Bonfire Studios]], composed entirely of former Ensemble staff members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22399|title=Ensemble Veterans Assemble Bonfire|publisher=Gamasutra|date=February 20, 2009|access-date=January 8, 2017|df=mdy|archive-date=November 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112232301/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22399|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bonfire was later renamed [[Zynga Dallas]] through its acquisition by Zynga and released only one game as an independent company.

In 2008, a third studio called [[Newtoy, Inc.]] was created by several developers from Ensemble,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newtoyinc.com/wp/about/ |title=Newtoy |publisher=newtoyinc.com |access-date=March 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110070922/http://newtoyinc.com/wp/about/ |archive-date=November 10, 2008 |df=mdy}}</ref> which released ''Chess With Friends'' for the [[iPhone]] in November 2008,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2008/11/halo-wars-devs/ |title=Halo Wars Devs Form iPhone Game Studio |publisher=wired.com |access-date=March 18, 2010 |first=Jean |last=Snow |date=November 14, 2008 |df=mdy |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514211309/https://www.wired.com/2008/11/halo-wars-devs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''Words With Friends'' in August 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://prmac.com/release-id-6845.htm |title=Newtoy releases Words With Friends 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch |publisher=prmac.com |date=August 5, 2009 |access-date=March 18, 2010 |df=mdy |archive-date=August 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814191610/http://prmac.com/release-id-6845.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Newtoy was also acquired by Zynga and renamed [[Zynga With Friends]], a moniker off of Newtoy's successful 'with friends' series. Newtoy released two games while they were independent.

In March 2009, a fourth studio, Windstorm Studios, was founded by ex-staffer Dusty Monk as a one-man company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/third-new-studio-emerges-from-ensemble-closure|title=Third New Studio Emerges From Ensemble Closure|publisher=Gamasutra|date=March 19, 2009|access-date=January 8, 2017|df=mdy|archive-date=May 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511134100/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22807|url-status=live}}</ref>  Dusty Monk later closed this studio on March 21, 2012 and joined Robot Entertainment with his former co-workers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://windstormstudios.com/ |title=Windstorm Studios - Home |access-date=2012-06-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322090204/http://windstormstudios.com/default.html |archive-date=March 22, 2009 }}</ref>

In June 2013, a fifth studio emerged, [[Boss Fight Entertainment]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/02/03/the-undead-zynga-dallas-team-starts-new-game-studio-boss-fight-entertainment-exclusive/ | title=Venture Beat: Leaders of the undead Zynga Dallas team start Boss Fight Entertainment | first=Dean | last=Takahashi | work=VentureBeat | date=February 3, 2014 | access-date=January 8, 2017 | df=mdy | archive-date=September 20, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920202457/https://venturebeat.com/2014/02/03/the-undead-zynga-dallas-team-starts-new-game-studio-boss-fight-entertainment-exclusive/ | url-status=live }}</ref> founded by previous employees of Ensemble Studios and Zynga Dallas. Boss Fight Entertainment is located in McKinney, Texas and is developing games for mobile platforms. The studio was acquired by [[Netflix|Netflix Inc.]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/netflix-acquires-boss-fight-game-studio-1235214156/ | title = Netflix Acquires Its Third Game Studio, Boss Fight Entertainment | date = March 24, 2022 | access-date = April 24, 2022 | first = Todd | last = Spangler | publisher = Variety | df = mdy | archive-date = March 24, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324221130/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/netflix-acquires-boss-fight-game-studio-1235214156/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

== Technology ==
{{Main|Genie Engine}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ensemblestudios.com/ Ensemble Studios site]
*[http://aok.heavengames.com/gameinfo/ask-sandyman 'Ask Sandy' threads] from Age of Kings Heaven
*[http://www.mobygames.com/company/ensemble-studios ''Ensemble Studios''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020203220/http://www.mobygames.com/company/ensemble-studios |date=October 20, 2010 }} profile on [[MobyGames]]
*[http://www.remember-ensemblestudios.com/ Remember Ensemble Studios - archived Ensemble material and news]

{{Xbox Game Studios}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ensemble Studios| ]]
[[Category:Former Microsoft subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Companies based in Dallas]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2009]]
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Video game companies based in Texas]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Texas]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in Texas]]