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Xbox One Gears of War game to "reignite" the franchise, says Microsoft

And don't expect a quick turnaround for Black Tusk Studios' first stab at the beloved franchise, Phil Spencer says.

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The first Gears of War game from new series developer Black Tusk Studios must "reignite" the franchise and grow the series in a meaningful way, according to Microsoft Studios executive Phil Spencer.

"Still working through plan. I can say first original [Gears of War] from [Black Tusk] has to reignite franchise and grow it, won't be a quick turn," Spencer said on Twitter. He further explained that he thinks Microsoft has assembled the right team to achieve this goal.

"I just want to give them the time," Spencer said, suggesting that the game's release is still a ways off.

Microsoft purchased the Gears of War franchise from Epic Games last month for an undisclosed sum and revealed that former Epic Games producer Rod Fergusson had returned to Microsoft to work on the series. Official details on the new Gears of War game are expected sometime in 2014.

No new games in the series have been officially announced, but it would be surprising if Black Tusk's first title doesn't come to at least the Xbox One. Longtime Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski will not work on the game in any capacity.

Spencer previously teased that a future entry in the Gears of War series might be "more gritty" than past games in the series. He also explained that Gears of War: Judgment did not hit the level of quality of past games and this was reflected in review scores and sales, he argued. This is something he's hoping to turn around with the new Gears of War game.

"I don't want to call it a reboot because I think it's an overused term, but think about where that franchise goes and how to expand what it was," Spencer said.

The Gears of War franchise is one of the Xbox platform's leading series. It has spanned four titles so far: Gears of War (2006), Gears of War 2 (2008), Gears of War 3 (2011), and Gears of War: Judgment (2013). Together, the games have sold more than 22 million copies and generated over $1 billion. Gears of War Exile, rumored to be a Kinect-enabled spinoff, was canceled.

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blackace

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Should be awesome if done correctly. Definitely better then "Judgement". Can't wait to see how it turns out.

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tzolynski

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<< LINK REMOVED >> It has potential to be great so we will see if they can pull it off.

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GSyynoandnoyyGS

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MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH

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tzolynski

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<< LINK REMOVED >> they have made 4 games in 8 years thats not really milking it.

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blackace

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Super Mario? Legend of Zelda? Uncharted? Yeah ok. lol!!

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DiamondDM13

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Milk it!

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Hina_Ken

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Almost as milky as the God of War franchise, but not quite yet.

I don't know of any other that has been re-re-re-re-re-re-released more than that one!

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DiamondDM13

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@hina_ken @DiamondDM13Sorry, but God of War was and still is developed by Sony Santa Monica. The Studio that made the franchise hasn't changed.

As much as I know Gears of War was made by Epic, but Epic is now done with the franchise and moved on, but Microsoft purchased the IP to continue releasing games. That is milking it. Same with Halo- Bungie is long gone, yet Microsoft still milk the franchise.

If Sony decide to hand over God of War to another studio, then you can say it's the same situation. But so far, it has always been the same team making the games. (And just so you know, even the PSP games were made with Santa Monica, Ready at Dawn was working with them while developing the games.

But, I do hope Sony puts God of War to rest, at least for a while.

And as for a game that has been re-released, you clearly are new to the industry. So I'll present to you Super Mario, the game that has about 140 iterations.(Yes, I'm serious)

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plm3d_basic

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I can wait.

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zintarr

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Someone please pass the rehash.

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sladakrobot

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The last thing MS now needs is a rehashed GoW.

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CTR360

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i cant wait

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Fursnake

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...and the cow says, "Moooooooooooooo."

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Flamewolf75

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Reignite aka milk

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ghost59

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<< LINK REMOVED >> god of war has more games then gears.

mario, killzone,

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ak33715

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<< LINK REMOVED >> What successful franchise doesn't see continued releases?

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tzolynski

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> ya 4 games since 2006 is just really squeezing those udders....... troll on mighty trollers.

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Warlord_Irochi

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The really need a fresh start after Judgement; that forth iteration had no purpose whatsoever.

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Megavideogamer

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A new "restart" or "reimagining" of Gears of War is welcome. They have to get it right the first time. So take your time in releasing this 2016 would be good.

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waffleiron88

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i wouldnt mind an open world version of gears, other than that idk what all they could do for the franchise.

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spartanx169x

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I would love to FOR ONE GAME TYPE within multiplayer I would love to see 16 vs 16 with vehicles like what has been done with Halo. It would have to be maps that are conducive to GOW gameplay though. I can see mechs like what they had in GOW3 and some type of vehicle. With the right maps , it could be awesome. One weakness of GOW in my opinion was the lack of mid-range shoot outs, Most people rely heavily on the shotguns rifles could be used more with a bigger more open maps again For ONE GAME TYPE only while keeping the other game types for GOW3.

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sirkibble2

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I really don't want a grittier Gears. The grittiness and dudebro-nature it had diminished the story and the characters, which could have been much stronger.


I hope they focus on innovating their mechanics and sharpening the story-telling. And of course, keep the four-player co-op.

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FULGOREY2K

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if they think they can, they by all means butcher the series

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neowarrior121

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here black tusk ill supply the lighter, you do what you think is right

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ThomasN7

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Looking forward to seeing what Black Tusk comes up with.

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deactivated-609fe4eae5287

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Maybe they will reignite it by making it worth playing past the first level.

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Xx_DemonSoul_xX

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<< LINK REMOVED >> LOL

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deactivated-57bac25e99ee3

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How do you go more gritty than the four Gears of War games so far? Those games are some of the most brutal third person shooters around. In terms of story, seeing as it can't be a sequel to Gears of War, the Pendulum Wars would be an interesting premise. Everyone will be psyched for the new Gears of War but I still wish that Black Tusk would have pushed ahead with a new IP for Xbox One.

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deactivated-5fed60f86b755

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"Xbox One Gears of War game to "reignite" the franchise, says Microsoft

And don't expect a quick turnaround for Black Tusk Studios' first stab at the beloved franchise, Phil Spencer says."

sounds like two ppl not on the same page but okay no shock there. dat PR doe.

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punishergreen

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I hope next one is just as great as GOW3.

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NTM23

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I'm excited for what's next for Gears of War, though... How many people that worked on the previous Gears of War games are working on the new ones? It's not that they can't be good if it's an entirely new team, I hope it's great, but it does give me doubts nonetheless.

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neowarrior121

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tbh is they screw up this game MS will get a lot of stick off their fans, the same could happen to halo and even i would be a little sad if they utterly destroy the integrity of thoes franchises.

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adub424

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Halo 4 was a great game despite being a new studio. I have faith in Microsoft letting their developers do what is necessary to shine. It can be healthy for developers to move onto other projects and start the creative process over again.

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neowarrior121

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> or it can be the death of them XD

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dbene

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All these Sony guys trashing awesome exclusive IPs. Now that Metal Gear is for both systems...what exactly am I supposed to be jealous of? God of War is not making waves anymore. The Last of Us is the only series that I would love to play for Sony. I just don't see any exclusives on it to warrant all this big talk of how it is going to dominate this generation. I just don't get the Sony Love simply because they hardware is slightly better.

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GearDoGi

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Both consoles have amazing exclusives and thats why i own both (PS3/X360)
And will do the same with the PS4/X1.But i like X1 exclusive more thats the only reason i m going to buy it First.

I can agree about Last of us but God of War was also an epic franchise!
Like Puppeteer,Shadow of colosus, Ico and i m sure The last guardian will be EPIC!

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dbene

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>

I thought God of War trailed off in this generation. I knew it was good on the PS2. But I wasn't impressed by the videos I saw. I am gonna enjoy my Xbone for a couple of years and then a get a cheap PS4 and go back and play the few exclusives that it wll have over the last two years that I care about. For third party sutff though I am all Xbone...I just like the achievement system and friends system a lot more.

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tzolynski

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<< LINK REMOVED >> God of War 3 was the best out of bunch imo but after that ascension was terrible i thought.

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ExtremePhobia

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Not a bad way to go. God of War was solid through three games. God of War is done though. I'm fairly certain that the franchise has been ditched in favor of new IP (they left hints in the last God of War game).

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dbene

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I'm not saying this as a fanboy. I have an Xbone, but I have owned both systems the last two generations. I am open to buying a PS4 if I saw something to convince me I am missing out by NOT having a PS4. My stepson was a 360 guy all the way. He is big into multiplayer games. He let his goofy friends talk him into getting a PS4. The other day he was playing Titanfall Beta on my Xbone and was so pumped. He said he could not wait to get it. I broke the news that it was only for Xbone....he is already regretting the choice.

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ExtremePhobia

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Right now, Microsoft will have Halo and Titanfall for the next several years until Gears reappears (probably 3 years). And I don't think Titanfall will remain an exclusive for long (especially since it's barely an exclusive now).

Not saying that Sony has much more going on at this point. One studio is responsible for probably the two largest exclusive brands that they have (Uncharted, TLOU). God of War is done so Santa Monica is going to be working on something different so that's probably three years away. We did already get a Kill Zone game though and they've got some good stuff coming down the line for indie as well.

Microsoft's future exclusives are better well known but I'm fairly certain that even if we don't know what they are, Sony has far more in the pipeline. Which comes down to a matter of taste.

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deactivated-5e1614c76e1f9

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Both Consoles will continue to get strong exclusives


PS3 had The Last of Us, Uncharted, Beyond Two Souls and Heavy Rain, and although the majority of great exclusives come from Naughty Dog... they're a very capable company and possibly have some of the best Developers in the Industry right now, so that isn't a bad thing


Xbox 360 had Crackdown, Saints Row, Gears of War and Mass Effect all start up as exclusives, these were also great, fresh game experiences


Neither side has a complete advantage in exclusives, as the big companies (M and Sony) know they can't allow their competitor the advantage...

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ExtremePhobia

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> And both are completely trumped by Mario Kart. Hardly games worth mentioning in my book. Can't really say I've cared for a "real" racing game since the PS1 days when GT was still new. The mechanics have hardly changed. They become flashier every year. You're basically buying a 3D car shopping simulator.

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dbene

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>


You forgot Forza which basically blows GT out of the water.

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PeterDuck

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Let's see if MS puts their money when their mouth is and release the next game on PC.

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Flyincloud1116

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I was done after the second Gears and so was my 360.

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heartindarkness

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reignite as in set it to fire and ruin it ?

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