Cinematic director from Epic joins BlackTusk Gears team

The guy who directed the video sequences in the Gears of War games at developer Epic is back working on the franchise at Microsoft.

Greg M. Mitchell has left Epic Games, according to a post on Twitter. He revealed that he is joining the new Microsoft team Black Tusk Studio, which is making the next Gears of War game. Mitchell held the title of director of cinematics and video at Epic, and he’ll likely do something similar at Black Tusk. Gears of War is one of Microsoft’s biggest exclusive franchises, and it is building up its team to ensure that fans welcome the first entry in the series on Xbox One.

In January 2014, Microsoft made a deal with Epic to fully acquire the rights to Gears of War. This gives the Xbox company complete control over the franchise going forward, and Microsoft immediately brought on former Gears of War director Rod Fergusson to oversee the project. Fergusson also runs the Black Tusk studio, which Microsoft formed in Vancouver specifically to make the new Gears of War.

This is a similar model that Microsoft used with Halo, where the company started its developer 343 Industries to take over the reins on that property after the original developer, Bungie, gained its independence from Microsoft.

By bringing back both Fergusson and Mitchell, Microsoft is clearly trying to keep Gears of War’s core in place. And it obviously would want that, as the previous games were among the best-selling releases on the Xbox 360.

“The Gears of War franchise has a very strong, passionate, and valued fan base,” Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in a statement in 2014. “Over 22 million units have been sold across all Gears of War titles worldwide, grossing over $1 billion. This franchise, and these fans, are part of the soul of Xbox. By acquiring this franchise, Microsoft Studios will continue to offer them more of their favorite games and entertainment experiences from the Gears of War universe.”

I think that's good that they want to rekindle some of the original chemistry by having the original trilogy's producer at the helm and now they have acquired the cinematics director. Hopefully the game will live up to the originals as well as transcends them, as we need a new gameplay leap in this generation.

O_O Microsoft is coming out swinging holy shizz

sony what u got? holy crap gj MS gj

Good news, new Gears gonna cause major Xbox anti fan SW tears, no doubt about it. :P

Good for him.

Cinematics was never gear's strong suite.

I wouldn't think too much of it...... Infact I think this is a bad sign.

So the guy who worked on the worst aspects of the gears games is joining the Epic Tribute Band? I'm not seeing much of a positive here.

I tend to agree, but maybe it's because the story itself was paper thin, maybe with better scripts, he'd be able to create something better, especially given the fact that the graphics quality was never the issue there.

@Salt_The_Fries:

They better make some good gameplay before they decide to throw money at something that never mattered in gears..... seriously...... a brand new studio taking on the project of following up one of the Best TPS's...... if this doesn't turn out to be as good because they were dicking around trying to make better cutscenes then they won't have anybody's sympathy...... they better not **** up..... I'm already unhappy Epic Games sold out.

It's funny how Microsoft adds upon their first party studios instead of the other way around.

I would just like a good game. A solid title with a great story and good gameplay.

Black Tusk need to be careful this doesnt turn into Gears of 1886. Substance over style, but both would be amazing.

Well, so there was this.

I still wish MS would have let them complete the project they were working on instead of having them abandon it.

I thought Lemmings hated to play movie-like games?

The Gears game are hardly remembered for their cinematics. Though the Dom death scene never fails to get a chuckle out of me. And the ending to 3, lololol.

Get your boots ready for some curb stompin'.

“The Gears of War franchise has a very strong, passionate, and valued fan base,” Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in a statement in 2014.

That's why they deserve a robotic response.

There were cutscenes in Gears? I faintly remember men grunting and women grunting.

Smart move really. This will assure that whatever new ideas they implement in this new Gears will not feel like a complete 180 degree turn on the previous ones (in theory of course). Good news for the fans I think!

The cutscenes in the gears games are actually quite well done.