Type Subsidiary Owner Microsoft Number of employees 200 (2015) | Industry Video game industry Headquarters Vancouver, Canada Parent organization Microsoft Studios | |
Formerly called Zipline Studios (2010–11)
Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver (2011–12)
Black Tusk Studios (2012–15) Key people Rod Fergusson (studio head) Products Gears of War series (2015–) Founded February 2010, Vancouver, Canada Key person Rod Fergusson (studio head) Video games Gears of War 4, Gears of War: Ultimate, Gears of War, Microsoft Flight | ||
The Coalition (formerly Zipline Studios, Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver and Black Tusk Studios) is a Canadian video game developer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and a subsidiary of Microsoft Studios. The Coalition is best known for developing games in the Gears of War series after the franchise's acquisition by Microsoft Studios from Epic Games.
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History
The studio was formed in February 2010 as Zipline Studios, and went to develop Facebook game Relic Rescue. On May 2, 2011, the studio was renamed Microsoft Game Studios Vancouver and officially announced, working on Microsoft Flight and Kinect shooter game Project Columbia. On July 25, 2012, Project Columbia and further development on Microsoft Flight were cancelled, with all 35 employees being laid off. On November 29, 2012, the studio was renamed Black Tusk Studios, and tasked with creating a new major franchise for Microsoft Studios to rival their popular Halo franchise.
On January 27, 2014, it was announced that Microsoft had acquired the Gears of War franchise from Epic Games, and that Black Tusk Studios would take on the development of future games in the series. As part of the Gears of War acquisition, Microsoft also hired Rod Fergusson, who was the executive producer on the first three Gears of War games, to oversee development. On June 3, 2015, Fergusson announced that Black Tusk Studios had been renamed The Coalition, signifying its relation to the Gears of War franchise, with the name serving as a reference to the Coalition of Ordered Governments, an in-game faction.