Two recent job postings on the Microsoft website suggest the company may be opening new studios to develop projects for the Xbox 360’s successful Kinect motion peripheral.
Spotted by the eagle-eyed members of NeoGAF, one job listing is for a senior human resources manager who will support two of the company’s internal studios — Halo developer 343 Industries and Platform Next Studios, which Microsoft claims is “pioneering experiences on Kinect.”
The company is also looking for a level designer for something called LEAP. “We’re the people that developed Kinect and profoundly changed the way people interact with technology,” the job posting reads. “Now our incubation team is ready to change the world again, but we need your help!” Both jobs were listed for work in Redmond, Wash.
VentureBeat contacted Microsoft to confirm whether or not plans for new studios are in fact underway and received the following official statement:
As an innovator, we’re always thinking about what is next and how we can push the boundaries of technology like we did with Kinect. We also believe in recruiting and retaining the best and the brightest to ensure we continue as the leader in delivering games and entertainment experiences. Beyond that, we don’t have any specific comment.
Microsoft recently revealed at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show that it has sold more than 18 million Kinect devices since its launch in November 2010. It has also said in the past that future versions of the Xbox console will ship with Kinect already built in. A PC version of the device will be available starting February 1 for $250.