Microsoft shuts down two Vancouver projects, lays off staff

I'm glad the effect was little in terms of jobs, good to hear that it's still likely they will have jobs, the last thing anyone wants to hear is bad news, not sure why anyone is jumping on the chance to attack Microsoft - no doubt one of the best companies to hit the market.

We should be more thankful, everyone forgot the bit that says Microsoft HR is "working with the affected individuals to find new roles within the company". At least they are still keeping the jobs in Canada and not shipped off to, er I don't know, China Mr Apple Macintosh!

kinect is the first camera that recognize environment as 3D. There are a lot of motion sensor cameras but its based on movement recognition etc.. But kinect is the only technology that sees(recognized) environment with depth. The software knows that the person is standing a certain distance and there are objects behind him. Using this, other companies was able to make more sophisticated robots and drones. It is also use to other tech as well. Right now it is far from perfect, but soon it will be more advance and can probably used in computers as a mouse.(as seen in Iron Man)

Wow, look at all the people screaming about Kinect! Weird, given the article has almost nothing to do with Kinect.

Microsoft Flight sure didn't last long hehe. Maybe Microsoft will understand and release a true flight sim now, though these days there are other products available with good third-party support.

I'm so glad I didn't buy Kinect or Move. I knew they'd be a waste of money. I could see their future before they were released; few games and those that do get released aren't worth playing.

Should rename to "SEXBOX FREE60™"

I feel like I got ripped for getting the Kinect; there were only two games that made it worth owning, and both are on-rails shooting games (The Gunstringer and CoE); other than that, it seems like the only real use for it is for making it into a research module, or doing silly experiments that Microsoft doesn't want you to do with it, but let's you do it anyway. : I

Hopefully eventually Microsoft will stop trying to make "core" games for core gamers on Kinect and realise 99% of core gamers rather use the controller than dicey motion controls and start to make good core games that they used to make... naaaaaaaah

Gamers outcry : "Build up your 1st party, make more retail games"

M$ response : "Shut down two more projects and lay off more staff. ;)"

RIP kinect, you little fad you.

all long as its something with kinect being cancelled then it's all good.

Wow...

First Radical gets reduced to almost nothing, then Rockstar Vancouver moves toronto, now both Capcom and Microsoft's Vancouver studios have laid people off.

What is going on with the gaming industry in my city?

First, FF Versus XIII is 'cancelled', now Microsoft is 'shutting' down its Vancover studio.

That's two strikes, Kotaku....

I have to be careful when reading comments because I can feel my brain shrinking at the lack of anything remotely not pulled out of asses

If I remember correctly the Microsoft Flight game was going to be FREE. Sooooo.. I can understand this if it was taking too long to get the game completed. I wold rather Microsoft use that team to make Crimson Skies 2. Something gamers actually want to play.

@Nintyfan95

You don't own a Kinect, so why even comment on it? There are more original Kinect IP games then the "MOVE-on" has. These original games have outscored MOVE's overall. I doubt M$ is going to give up on Kinect. It has sold so many units and its games still sell very well. I think Microsoft is working on exclusives for their Next XBox, even though they should still support their current XBox 360 with exclusives since it has over 60 million in gamers homes.

This is why I only support Nintendo, and Sony because Microsoft never wants to make exclusives for there system. Even though it is a canned Kinect game, mabey thats a good sign they'll give up the Diskinect, get serious, and start making first party games.

Kinect is crap and be more crap for kinect 2 and this just small blow for microsoft . But In other news Microsoft lost money for the first time and angry about it. lol.

It's Micro$oft's way of admitting that Kinect is crap.

Does anyone else just see the word Kinect and think "Urrrghh".

No matter what article I read I just hate the thing even more :/

Usually they close these studios because they haven't produced or pitched anything promising. Microsoft is actually quite strict when it comes to AAA first party games or anything related to any of its other AAA franchise

lol this guys should have seen this coming the moment they heard "a big-budget AAA shooter for Kinect", that was a dead give away that they will soon be unemployed

Wasn't there an article for open job positions in Kinect projects yesterday?

i wonder what those people who bought Kinect do with it now?

eh anything kinect has been trash i mean enless thay make something good like a damn fatal frame game for it then its just trash ps i say fatal frame since i feel thats a game that work very well with kinect but hey im just a gamer what do i know?

Never good when people loose jobs but kinect projects being canned is hopefully a sign microsoft is giving up on that garbage.

Yes, Vancouver is expensive. Basic Home is about 1 Million $. Wages therefore must be much higher. You need $100,000 a year for a basic standard of living. Also, the current government is pro business but is going to be tossed out next year for a left wing gov.

Big companies are just exiting before the #$%@ hits the fan. Lots of talent still here because it's a trendy, creative city but sadly getting a little less sexy each year. There are several cities also giving huge tax advantages etc and Vancouver just isn't being competitive in that regard. I think Montreal and Toronto are likely going to see all the new action.