Microsoft forming LEAP & Platform Next studios

Posted January 23, 2012 by Luke Stratford in News.

Expanding ever further, Microsoft have begn hiring for two new studios – LEAP and Platform Next.

While some may consider now to be the time for careful investment in existing studios, or cutting losses altogether, Microsoft are bucking the trend as they openly recruit for two new teams under the Microsoft Studios umbrella: LEAP and Platform Next.

The latter, Platform Next, aims to invest heavily in the Kinect motion-control technology, seeks to create ‘pioneering experiences on the Kinect’, although it’s a little diffucult to imagine what that could really be at this point. With the homebrew crowd pretty much exploring every possible avenue of the Kinect’s applications to motion control, recording and digital maniplation, it’s hard to see where there’s left to go.

LEAP, on the other hand, has a less direct model in mind, instead describing themselves as ‘incubators’ as much as concept generators and creators – focusing more on building prototypes and experimenting than a specific release goal. Nevertheless, looking for Level Designers, it’s clear that this isn’t quite a conceptual drawing board – there’s going to be an output somewhere along the line.

It’s nice to see Microsoft essentially throwing together a couple of optimistic studios, even if it does seem that it may focus more on research and development over churning out titles. It might strike some as throwing money away to look busy, but if Microsoft is determined to push their technology forward whilst keeping a firm hold on the direction, then this would be the best way to go about it.

Tagged as development, jobs, Kinect, LEAP, Microsoft, Platform Next, Recruitment