Peter Jackson teams up with Microsoft to create Wingnut Interactive

Two exclusive new game series on their way

27 September 2006 23:14 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Microsoft has announced it is developing two new game series' with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh exclusively for its next generation console the Xbox360 and Xbox Live.

Announced at the company's annual gaming conference X06 in Barcelona, the first series will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next great chapter in the “Halo” universe.

The second series will be an entirely original game "targeted at bringing new audiences into the captivating world of interactive entertainment", according to Microsoft.

In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of interactive entertainment.

“Microsoft has built an amazing living canvas with Xbox360 and Xbox Live, which allows the storytellers of our time to express themselves in a new medium. They have fundamentally changed how people think about games”, Jackson said.

“My vision, together with Microsoft Game Studios, is to push the boundaries of game development and the future of interactive entertainment. From a movie-maker’s point of view, it is clear to me that the Xbox360 platform is the stage where storytellers can work their craft in the same way they do today with movies and books but taking it further with interactivity.”

Microsoft also announced that it was delevoping “Halo Wars” an all-new real-time strategy game based on the “Halo” universe and designed exclusively for Xbox360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the “Age of Empires” franchise.

“Halo Wars” places the player in command of human UNSC armies as they deploy for mankind’s first deadly encounter with the enemy Covenant forces.