Microsoft has announced that it has acquired Austin-based Splosion Man and The Gunstringer developer Twisted Pixel.

Founded in 2006, the studio has built close ties with Microsoft, releasing four games for Xbox Live Arcade since 2009, while recent game The Gunstringer was a boxed Xbox 360 exclusive that made use of Kinect.

According to the press release's rather oblique wording, Twisted Pixel will "help incubate and develop the future of game and entertainment offerings on Microsoft’s Xbox 360".

“Twisted Pixel has an incredible track record of delivering innovative, critically acclaimed, and most importantly, fun, games,” says Microsoft Game Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer. “Microsoft Studios is home to cutting-edge entertainment experiences, and the incredible creativity of the Twisted Pixel team will help drive further innovation around Kinect and Xbox LIVE.”

Twisted Pixel is in good company, joining the likes of Lionhead Studios and Rare as a firstparty developer.

Posted: Oct 12, 2011 1:18 pm

Source: http://www.next-gen.biz/news/microsoft-acquires-twisted-pixel