Microsoft has closed a deal to purchase action video game franchise "Gears of War" from Epic Games.
The shooter franchise has garnered $1 billion in gross sales revenue and should continue to thrive on Microsoft's Xbox One, USA TODAY reported.
"This franchise, and these fans, are part of the soul of Xbox," Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Studios, described in a statement. "By acquiring this franchise, Microsoft Studios will continue to offer them more of their favorite games and entertainment experiences from the 'Gears of War' universe."
Microsoft now owns the rights to "all existing and future games, entertainment experiences and merchandise," said a company statement.
The purchase is a wise move on Microsoft's part, according to a Forbes report, which noted that the Xbox console has been low on exclusives. The deal will make "Gears of War" an Xbox-only title that can't go multiplatform.
Launching on the Xbox 360 in 2006, "Gears of War" has been a cornerstone video game series for the console with sales topping 22 million.
"Gears of War" will be developed at Black Tusk Studios, a video game studio in Vancouver. Rod Fergusson, the former director of production at Epic Games, will head development Black Tusk Studios as well.
"Rod has played a leadership role at Epic on all of the 'Gears of War' games," Hanno Lemke, general manager of Black Tusk Studios, said in a statement. "He understands the franchise deeply but equally importantly he understands the fans of the franchise--what they love, where they want to see the franchise evolve."
Fergusson was excited for the new development as well.
"I'm extremely excited to be joining Black Tusk Studios to oversee development on the 'Gears of War' franchise," he said in a statement. "I've been privileged to work on a lot of great games with a lot of great teams, but 'Gears' has had the most impact on me professionally and personally, so this really feels like a homecoming."
Microsoft and Epic Games launched prequel "Gears of War: Judgment" last year, USA TODAY reported.
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