Microsoft is poised to double the size of its game development studios. The Seattle company announced recently that it has formed a brand-new studio called The Initiative, headed up by industry veteran Darrell Gallagher who previously held senior positions at Activision, Square Enix, and Tomb Raider developers Crystal Dynamics.

This will be joined by four other existing studios. PlayGround Games, the team responsible for impressive work on Forza Horizon 4, has already joined the Microsoft fold, and it will soon be followed by Ninja Theory (developers of Hellblade), Undead Labs (creators of the State of Decay franchise), and Compulsion Games whose dystopian British themed We Happy Few was a big hit at E3.

With Microsoft’s gaming division reporting revenues of $10bn for the first time this year, it seems the brand will continue going from strength to strength.