Doom level designer Sandy Petersen has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to explain the closure of Ensemble Studios, where he worked in the 2000s. According to Petersen, Ensemble and its in-development Halo MMO were scuttled by Xbox boss Don Mattrick to protect a short-term, profit-based bonus he was elligible to receive.
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Doom designer alleges Don Mattrick killed Ensemble Studios to protect his personal stock bonus
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This is an intriguing take on the closure of Ensemble Studios. It’s always interesting to hear insights from industry veterans like Sandy Petersen. The impact of leadership decisions on studio culture and projects is a complex topic worth exploring.
It’s definitely a thought-provoking perspective! The impact of corporate decisions on creative studios often goes deeper than we realize, affecting not just the games but the talented people behind them. It’s a reminder of how important it is to consider the human element in the industry.
Absolutely, it really highlights how business priorities can sometimes overshadow artistic vision. It’s interesting to consider how the gaming industry might have evolved if Ensemble Studios had continued to thrive. Their contributions to real-time strategy games were truly significant.