2006
- Microsoft Studios purchases Lionhead Studios, known for developing critically acclaimed titles such as Black & White and Fable.
- Microsoft Studios acquires Massive Incorporated, an in-game advertising company to provide additional revenues from their gaming platforms.
2007
- Microsoft Studios announces the opening of a European office in Reading, England, headed by General manager Phil Spencer.
- Microsoft Studios disbands FASA Studio, best known for their work on the MechWarrior series.
- Former Halo developer Bungie Software announced that they would split from Microsoft Studios in order to become a privately held independent company.
2008
- Microsoft Studios disbands casual games studio Carbonated Games.
- Microsoft Studios announces the formation of Xbox Live Productions to develop "high-quality digital content" for Xbox Live Arcade.
- Microsoft Studios begins recruiting for 343 Industries to take over development of the Halo franchise after the former developer, Bungie Software, regained independent status. 343 Industries was first officially revealed as steward of the Halo series in mid-2009 with the announcement of the animated project, Halo Legends.
2009
- Microsoft Studios closes both Ensemble Studios and ACES Studio due to the effects of the financial crisis and the restructuring of their game development studios.
- In May, Microsoft acquires Canadian developer BigPark Inc. and integrates them into Microsoft Studios.
- Phil Spencer is promoted to Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Studios in order to replace the retiring Shane Kim.
- Microsoft Studios forms Good Science Studio to develop software for Kinect.
2010
- Microsoft Studios forms a Mobile Gaming studio focused on developing gaming and entertainment multimedia for Windows Phone.
- Microsoft Studios expands Rare Ltd. to a second additional 90+ person in Digbeth, Birmingham to produce further titles.
- Microsoft Studios forms new internal studio named Microsoft Game Studios - Vancouver.
- Microsoft Studios forms new internal studio named Microsoft Flight Development Team to bring Microsoft Flight to PC.
2011
- Microsoft Studios opens new development studios in Soho London, Redmond, Washington and Victoria, British Columbia.
- Microsoft Studios acquires indie game developer Twisted Pixel Games , known for developing titles including 'Splosion Man and The Gunstringer.
2012
- Phil Harrison, the former Sony world wide studios head joins Microsoft as head of Microsoft European Studios and IEB.
- Microsoft Studios recruits for new development studios in Redmond — Microsoft Studios - Playful Learning.
- Microsoft Studios recruits for new development studios in Redmond — Microsoft Studios - The Connected Experiences.
- Microsoft Studios acquires developer Press Play, known for developing Tentacles and Max & the Magic Marker.
- Microsoft Studios announces plans to expand Microsoft Studios Victoria to between 80-100 people.
- Microsoft reveals the final name of their sports entertainment development studio - Skybox Sports - in a recruitment release.
- Microsoft reveals plans to open a new games development studio in London, England to develop various free-to-play, online and social games for Xbox platforms.
- Microsoft downsizes Microsoft Studios Vancouver due to the cancellation of the Kinect family title "Project Columbia" and announces ongoing development of the free-to-play PC title Microsoft Flight has ceased due to portfolio evaluation.
- Microsoft Studios Vancouver is officially renamed Black Tusk Studios. They aim to create Microsoft Studios' next big IP to rival their most successful series, Halo.
- Microsoft recruits for a new development studio in Los Angeles, California to develop interactive Televised Entertainment for Microsoft platforms - Microsoft Studios - LA.
2013
- Microsoft renames Microsoft Studios London to "Lift London" studios; a studio that would create games for the cloud and which Microsoft claims is staffed by the most incredible talent ever seen in a start-up.
- Microsoft Studios officially reveals the Xbox One on May 21, 2013.
- Microsoft Studios announces that they will publish 15 Xbox One exclusives within 12 months of launch, 8 of which will be new franchises.
- At the unveiling of the Xbox One, Microsoft Studios - Osaka was listed on a global map, dedicated to providing exclusive games and content for Japan.
