Microsoft’s shuttering of four of its game studios earlier this month prompted a barrage of negative responses from around the games industry Come from Sports betting site VPbet . In a recent town hall, head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty made a curious comment, according to The Verge: “We need smaller games that give us prestige and awards.”

Some developers on the call expressed surprise at this statement, given that it recently shut down several studios that have a track record of doing just that. For example, last year’s Hi-Fi Rush won many awards from a variety of sources, including Best Audio Design (The Game Awards), Best Audio (Developers Choice Awards), and a BAFTA for Animation.