Jonathan Ross, the famous television personality along with his colleague Georg Backer will soon join Microsoft Studios team as executive producers.
Ross will be working with UK Xbox teams including Lift London, Rare, Lionhead and Soho Productions guiding and assisting the teams on IP development.
Though Microsoft is yet to announce specifically as on what will Ross be working on, Phil Harrison, the company’s executive, at an event last night said that the company has hired the chat show host to help “change our thinking”.
Phil said that Microsoft Studios wanted to bring in new talent that would challenge the Studio’s methods of building games, its ways of thinking about “what an audience is and what is entertainment”.
“We want to broaden the concept of gaming to maybe blur the distinctions about what is a traditional game and what is a traditional television programme and what is traditional linear media.
Ross has a previous gaming track record with his production company Hotsauce, which is known for creating iOS game Catcha Catcha Aliens.
Studio head at Lift London, Lee Schuneman said, “We thought we should try and find someone who can think about gaming, TV, technology and toys and bring all that together”.
Ross said “I’m thrilled to be joining forces with Microsoft Studios. The explosion in cross-media opportunities and the chance to create and develop entertainment ideas that make the most of both the traditional and the very latest platforms is tremendously exciting.
“My love of games, movies and TV made this partnership a no-brainer. And they said they’d give me an Xbox One for free, so how could I possibly refuse?”
