Microsoft creates Black Tusk Studios

Microsoft has renamed its Vancouver based developer to Black Tusk Studios, with a focus on big triple-A games.

The studio, concentrating on Xbox 360 content, employs staff with an average of 12 years experience in games development.

Black Tusk boss, Michael Crump, said the aim of the developer was to create the next big franchise.

"We're not working on an existing franchise, we're looking to build the next Halo here in Vancouver, for example, which is really exciting," Crump told the Vancouver Sun.

"We are building something from the ground up."

The official website claims that due to Black Tusk being part of the Microsoft family, it can "leverage resources, technology and experience from other first-party studios such as 343 Industries, Turn 10 Studios, Rare Ltd., Lionhead Studios, Good Science Studio and Twisted Pixel Games".

Expect its first title to be available on the next-generation Xbox.