Major Gaming Studios That Transitioned from Publishers

Beyond acquisitions, the gaming industry has seen notable instances of studios transitioning away from major publishers, either through divestiture or closure.

The top 3

1. Toys for Bob's Spin-off from Activision Blizzard: In February 2024, Toys for Bob, known for Skylanders and Spyro, spun off from Activision (under Microsoft Gaming) to become an independent studio, with an openness to collaborate with both Activision and Microsoft on future projects.
2. Bungie's Independence from Microsoft: Bungie, the original developer of the Halo series, was acquired by Microsoft in 2000 but later became an independent studio in 2007, retaining the rights to its new IP, Marathon.
3. Lionhead Studios' Closure by Microsoft: Lionhead Studios, known for the Fable series, was acquired by Microsoft in 2006 but was ultimately closed in 2016, marking the end of the studio's operations under the publisher.

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