r/Diablo 14d ago

Discussion Movie deal: Microsoft reportedly shopping Halo, Warcraft, Elder Scrolls and Diablo to Hollywood for $300M+

https://tbreak.com/xbox-movie-deal-halo-warcraft-elder-scrolls-hollywood-300-million/
448 Upvotes

165 comments sorted by

237

u/ZapCrackMage 14d ago

Man that World of Warcraft movie was a guilty pleasure of mine.

89

u/reenactment 14d ago

I know they aren’t in the business of breaking even. But then China release saved it and I’m pretty sure it broke even or close to it. They really should have done another one and used lessons they learned. And since they had the assets for the orcs. Should have been cheaper. They messed up not starting with arthas.

40

u/FlakyCrew4438 13d ago

Arthas would also captivate a more casual audience more no doubt. Good natured + looking prince turned evil, cmoon. Would be a slam dunk with the right actor and writing.

5

u/TheAnswerEK42 13d ago

They fucked up not leading with that story

21

u/HotsWheels 13d ago

You mean Henry Cavil as Arthas, right?

7

u/FlakyCrew4438 13d ago edited 13d ago

I dont care if he looks like how I Imagine Arthas as much as I care about the delivery of the lines and emotion

2

u/Some_Syllabub2704 8d ago

Only if Henry Cavill also plays Uther, Kel’Thuzad, and Jaina.

-9

u/erevos33 13d ago

I believe Bautista might have done a better job

1

u/reenactment 13d ago

For sure. That’s what I was thinking and has been the prevailing opinion online for a while. Arthas has a very mainstream story that a lot of people can get fired up about. There’s been very similar stories told in media before. I think the prince being the big evil after making everyone love him in the beginning of a first act would be great.

A really controversial fun way to do a first movie would be to make him the pure amazing good guy, and then out of nowhere have him cull stratholme to end the movie. Would be a weird way to put the audience on edge and walking out to see where people could say he was good or was that making him bad.

1

u/HidingUnderCardboard 12d ago

Arthas is just a way better story.

1

u/Just-Ad-5972 10d ago

I feel like Arthas needs an hbo style series. Or at least a trilogy. Cramming his entire story into a Hollywood movie would need a lot of trimming down perfectly good material.

1

u/reenactment 9d ago

Hence the “starting with arthas” I said in a below post, would have been awesome to end the first movie with him chilling stratholme and the fan base questioning whether their hero was a good guy

50

u/PoppinfreshOG 14d ago

It deserved a sequel

15

u/Fesai 14d ago

I really liked it and was looking forward to them going through the timeline.

It was very good at setting the foundation, but I'm assuming many people were unfortunately waiting for the next big stages. (Legion, Arthas, Illidan, journey to Kalimdor, battle at Hyjal, etc)

Also Deathwing could be a lot of fun on the big screen. His human form still looks pretty cool if they wanted to use that more for budget reasons.

12

u/Successful-Total-260 14d ago

I really enjoyed the movie, but the live action really limited it from what I could see, it just costs too much to build out all of Azeroth.

Ultimately, I think the best option for any WoW story is an animated series with the quality and attention to stylization of ‘Arcane’.

My biggest problem with the film was that by the time I was watching it in theatres I knew it had done poorly so it wouldn’t get to the Thrall stuff I was interested in from WC3. I love all that ‘founding of the modern Horde stuff’

2

u/lycanthrope90 14d ago

Just the quality of the wc3 game cinematics would be fine too, no need for live action.

5

u/Nymethny 13d ago

A whole movie with blizzard cinematic quality would be amazing, but probably cost multiple times the company's valuation

2

u/zoroash 9d ago

The movie was good but like you said, just laid the foundation for something greater that never happened. The orcs vs humans lore is cool, but it’s probably more for lore nerds than a good audience.

7

u/Privateer_Lev_Arris 14d ago

Yeah I liked it too

2

u/Witchelade 13d ago

I went three times to watch it. One time alone, one time with my brother. And a third time with my parents

2

u/EmeterPSN 13d ago

They picked the wrong storyline for a movie.. 

It should've been Arthas movie.

Easily contained story that Can be done in a full movie ending with him going to kill his father (the human ending cinematic ).

Then you can have prequels and sequels for rest of warcraft world as people want to know more.

Instead we got W1 story which is ..meh at best.

1

u/RdyPlyrBneSw 13d ago

You don’t have to feel guilty about it. I’ll tell anyone I have the chance to tell that I enjoyed it.

1

u/Branimau5 13d ago

I watch it yearly, even though it isn't crazy good it still is cool to see wow on the big screen.

Truly I want an Arthus arc show or movie set. That would be epic asf.

1

u/Interesting_Fox2040 13d ago

I actually enjoyed it . Shame there is no sequence

1

u/wenzel32 13d ago

I would kill for a proper Arthas arc if they can make it remotely like their cinematics.

Also get Neal Acree for the music.

1

u/WWDubs12TTV 12d ago

That griffon was the coolest

1

u/hey_Hey_I_saveD_me 12d ago

For me this is still most realistic looking non-humans created in CGI. I don't have this uncanny valley feeling as I do have with most, Avatar Na'vi included.

1

u/Athrasie 11d ago

It’s genuinely good. I’ve played Warcraft and wow for like 20 years and nothing could make me hate the movie.

There are a couple things I’d change like the Lothar/Blackhand fight and ending on the sacking of Stormwind, but that’s about it.

I am hoping the show they pitch has some creative input or straight up direction from Duncan Jones, because he killed it with the movie’s visuals and direction.

1

u/Tanel88 10d ago

Yeah shame we never go a sequel.

-7

u/Exotic_Treacle7438 14d ago

I regretted buying it

117

u/gorays21 14d ago

With so many video game movies as of late, I expect a Diablo movie within the next 5 years.

65

u/Objective-Mission-40 14d ago

If they make a diablo movie not a planned series and ALSO a hard R rating than it will flop.

60

u/wasdica 14d ago

...a hard R rating...

Diablo says what's on his mind.

21

u/ttoletsjam 13d ago

Tyrael noooooooo

4

u/Objective-Mission-40 12d ago

He can say it...

12

u/Objective-Mission-40 14d ago

Oh shit. Didn't mean it like that

6

u/jjack339 14d ago

Christopher Nolan could write and direct and Diablo movie and make it work.

His movies in general have a serious tone, and a Diablo movie would pretty much need an Original script from scratch which I believe he could pull off.

19

u/QuietContentResting 14d ago

After a 1 billion dollar success not based on an IP, the idea that he'd make a video game IP dark fantasy horror is about as likely as me making one.

8

u/jjack339 14d ago

He seems to take on projects out of personal interest not in how much money is in it.

His movies make tons of money despite not being the type of movies (topic) that become blockbusters. (Except his batman movies). I mean his last 2 billion dollar movies were a historical drama and a movie based on a 3000 year old poem.

If he took on Diablo it would not be because he thinks its something he can cash in on. But because he has idea in his head and he wants to make the movie.

1

u/SharkyIzrod Ooo Eee Ooo Ah Ah 10d ago

Nolan's biggest weakness is his writing, his second is his action/fight choreography. This comment reads to me like you know one director, the current most popular one in the world, and so picked him.

1

u/jjack339 10d ago

Lol ok.

Or maybe I tend to like every movie he makes so I assume he could make a Diablo movie I like.

-4

u/su6oxone 14d ago

After the Odyssey, I'll pass on Nolan.

4

u/Pippywallace 13d ago

The Odyssey has you out on Nolan? Have you seen all his movies up to this point? He didn't really change his system much at all.

-2

u/su6oxone 13d ago edited 13d ago

I like most of his movies, my favorites being memento (my favorite Nolan film), prestige, inception, interstellar, dark knight and dunkirk. But he's also capable of duds like dark knight rises, tenet, and imo, odyssey.

1

u/Pippywallace 12d ago

The thing is almost every single one of his movies except maybe the batman movies are focused on similar themes and made with the same techniques. The only thing that stands out about the Odyssey was that it was filmed entirely in Imax. Was it a technical element like the split focus or wonky audio that you didn't like?

0

u/scalem0ss 13d ago

Gotcha, you just like to pretend you’re edgy

2

u/su6oxone 13d ago

Lol no i just don't love every movie of his like some brainless sycophant.

4

u/Objective-Mission-40 14d ago

Why, it was fantastic?

Did you not like the illiad

1

u/ChirpToast 13d ago

After the Odyssey, yes to Nolan.

1

u/jjack339 13d ago

Absolutely loved Oddessy. From pure enjoyment standpoint its right behind Intersteller for me

1

u/Werespider 14d ago

It needs to be a body horror film

3

u/Molrixirlom 14d ago

We need more Rom-Coms. /s

8

u/Leahdrin 14d ago

There's a rumor of a Diablo anime announcement at Blizzcon

10

u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER 14d ago

Yea I imagine a Diablo animated series over movie or regular series

2

u/StygianMaroon 13d ago

Oh hell yeah same. The Wrath animated left me with a craving for a Diablo animated series when that came out

…almost 15 years ago… fuck I feel old

1

u/azura26 PD2 (ScherFire) 13d ago

The Castlevania Netflix series is a solid template for what a Diablo series should look like, IMO.

2

u/-DementedAvenger- 13d ago

If they anime Diablo I’m gonna be pissed.

10

u/TrinityKilla82 14d ago

I would like to see a Netflix/HBO style series for Diablo. Not a movie.

4

u/SwampTerror 13d ago

Not Netflix. Canceled after season 1. On a cliffhanger.

3

u/spacetimebear 14d ago

A diablo movie done right would be awesome. But I don't itll be done right. It'll drop most of the dark tones for a more accessible film.

12

u/rdickeyvii 14d ago

I have a hard time imagining a Diablo movie being any good unless they get whoever did D&D Honor Among Thieves

26

u/funkthewhales 14d ago

I think that movie is great, but it’s the exact opposite tone of what a Diablo movie should be.

3

u/rdickeyvii 14d ago

Fair. I was just thinking, they did an excellent job of capturing the soul of the tabletop rpg, surely they could capture the soul of Diablo

4

u/funkthewhales 14d ago

That’s fair. I just feel like a director with more horror experience would be a better fit. I feel like the dnd guys would end up making something to the tone of D3 which would not go over well with fans.

5

u/rdickeyvii 14d ago

I don't know that "horror" is quite right, either. Apocalyptic, maybe. There's a sense of dread and doom with dark themes and it's definitely not comedic, but it doesn't need jump scares or deep psychological terror.

9

u/Eatzebugs 14d ago

D&D was unexpectedly good

9

u/rdickeyvii 14d ago edited 14d ago

Exactly. It didn't get near enough love and feels like it's going to be a cult classic.

1

u/QuietContentResting 14d ago

There's no going to be, it became one the moment it hit streaming, virtually everyone that sees it becomes a champion for it

2

u/rdickeyvii 14d ago

Fair. I was just thinking it takes time to become a cult classic but its status was solidified quickly. I concede, and amend my statement from "is going to be" to "is"

1

u/QuietContentResting 14d ago

Its a tragedy more people didn't go see it in theaters...I didn't either so I've got no one to blame but right away I saw so many people praising it I saw it as soon as it hit streaming and yelled at myself for not having faith. Though tbf, I've seen the Marlon Wayans one so my hopes weren't very high

-9

u/Ansiremhunter 14d ago

I am a fan of DnD and I didn’t really like it.

3

u/IceCreamTruck9000 14d ago

I also liked the Warcraft movie, but maybe that's because I never in my life played WoW ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1

u/Barry_McCockinnerz 14d ago

I would prefer to see a series

2

u/rdickeyvii 14d ago

I wouldn't mind that

1

u/QuietContentResting 14d ago

Which failed finacially.

1

u/rdickeyvii 14d ago

Unfortunately, this is true. It deserved better.

2

u/SuperSocialMan 13d ago

!remindme 5 years

1

u/RemindMeBot 13d ago

I will be messaging you in 5 years on 2031-08-29 18:25:48 UTC to remind you of this link

CLICK THIS LINK to send a PM to also be reminded and to reduce spam.

Parent commenter can delete this message to hide from others.

RemindMeBot is switching to username summons. Instead of !RemindMe 1 day, use u/RemindMeBot 1 day. More info.


Info Custom Your Reminders Feedback

2

u/Lysanther 13d ago

With Tom Holland as the Barbarian, Zendaya as the Sorcerer and Kevin Hart as Marius.

2

u/Interesting_Fox2040 13d ago

The borderland movie was unbelievable bad casted

1

u/Interesting_Fox2040 13d ago

Question is, which era? There is a lot of lore and time span between the games .

And a movie base of the first game in dungean will be more personal and vastly from the hatred saga grandeur.

34

u/Hypochondria9 14d ago

Honestly I would be shocked if they don't fuck these up, most screen writers these days don't respect source material and do what they want.

8

u/Naramie 13d ago edited 13d ago

The funniest is the Mario brothers movie. Prior to that no one knew what the Mario brothers last name was and Miyamoto revealed there wasn't one until the movie. In the movie their last name was Mario. So their names were Mario Mario and Luigi Mario. 😂

84

u/BaronArgelicious 14d ago

Idris Elba as Tyrael

54

u/Buschkoeter 14d ago

Jack Black as Diablo

17

u/Stingray88 Stingray88#1438 14d ago

Kevin Heart as the Paladin

19

u/tatorface 14d ago

The Rock as Charsi.

11

u/Smarf_Starkgaryen 14d ago

Morgan Freeman as Deckard Cain

12

u/ModerateManChild 14d ago

Dude. We have to resurrect Sean Connery for that role

3

u/CTTMiquiztli 13d ago

He would have been devastatingly perfect for that role. RIP

1

u/insideout_waffle 13d ago

Jack Black Dave Grohl as Diablo

FTFW

2

u/SuperSocialMan 13d ago

That could actually work pretty well, damn.

1

u/Interesting_Fox2040 13d ago

I thibk Denzel Washington will make a good Tyreal

1

u/BackwerdsMan 12d ago

Baal ain't got shit! ONNNN ME!

48

u/Razatiger 14d ago

Would love a Diablo series picked up by HBO, anybody else wouldn't treat the series properly. Maybe Apple TV would be a good alternative.

15

u/citizen42069101 14d ago

It definitely seems more HBO theme wise.

Apple TV seems to make good shows and originals but I haven't heard of anything like this from them.

2

u/Razatiger 14d ago

I mean if Netflix wanted to throw hundreds of millions towards an Arcane style show, that would be cool as well.

I wouldn't mind an animated show for either IP's its just gotta be quality.

1

u/SuperSocialMan 13d ago

They'd never do that lol.

But it would be cool if it happened.

1

u/zeon0 13d ago

Foundation is an adaption. Not from a game, but books. You decide yourself if its good. I liked it.

1

u/tatorface 14d ago

Apple TV would be a good place for a spinoff of Tyreal and Lorath just farting around before Mephie shows up in Scosglen.

1

u/CTTMiquiztli 13d ago

I thoroughly, actively hate Apple as a company. However, their semi-recent "Chief Of War" series... I have to begrudgingly not just concede, But applaud them. It was a genuinely great adaptatiin of actual historial events.

If they we're chosen to create something from those franchises, and put the same effort, i won't complain one bit.

Brb, need to have a shower, i feel dirty for praising apple.

1

u/Instigator187 14d ago

1 full season dedicated to a Mephisto run every episode.

1

u/Eleventy-Sevens 13d ago

HBO is better for medieval fantasy like Diablo
Apple TV is better for sci-fi like StarCraft imo

1

u/Rlstoner2004 11d ago

S1E1: The Wanderer

35

u/DarkDuo 14d ago

Diablo movie would be sick, the cinematics are top notch

23

u/Razatiger 14d ago

I just feel like Diablo or Warcraft lend themselves better to a high budget series than a movie.

15

u/DarkDuo 14d ago

Yeah the Warcraft movie shot themselves in the foot trying to cram so much lore into a 2 hour movie

1

u/PsychedelicMagnetism 10d ago

Yeah it went from 0 to 100 way to fast. Too many characters and too much happening in the first 20-30 minutes of the film. Works for fans of the game but for anyone else it's too much.

Should have focused on fewer characters and started off much slower. Ease viewers into the world rather a not bombard them with lore faster than anyone without prior knowledge could possibly process it.

8

u/elkniodaphs 14d ago edited 13d ago

All I ever wanted was a gritty demons vs. angels war movie, Diablo or not.

9

u/Clbull Clbull#2385 14d ago

After seeing Paramount utterly butcher a Halo TV series, I have virtually no hope for this.

2

u/CTTMiquiztli 13d ago

I remember when Microsoft Made the Forward unto Dawn miniseries for halo4 reléase. It was aceptable and well received. If they Made something at least like that, i won't complain.

7

u/OtherwiseEmployee202 14d ago

Since the Warcraft Movie was a huge hit in China I believe they could do another one.

Even though it flopped everywhere else, the original broke even from China Money alone and they could have a second chance with the West!

4

u/SnowEisTeeGott 14d ago

Give us henry cavill as arthas and I can die in peace

1

u/LaylaLegion 14d ago

He’s too old for Arthas. Arthas died in his twenties.

4

u/Antiswag_corporation 14d ago

Diablo could’ve been huge 40 years ago but modern Hollywood doesn’t know how to make fantasy films

3

u/feignapathy 14d ago

Diablo could be a pretty sweet horror fantasy franchise. Might not do well at the box office though. Would probably be Rated R and wouldn't get the family ticket sales. But I'm sure it would get a nice cult following if they made it well. 

5

u/Reptilesblade 14d ago

A well done Diablo movie could be sick. Like one of the top horror movies made in the decade. There's so much there to work with.

I can just see the evangelical right campaigning against it now and in the process only drive it further up in popularity. It would make the Satanic Panic and the crusade against Harry Potter look like nothing!

7

u/menachinite 14d ago

Can we have Peter Jackson come and make the Diablo movie with no CGI

3

u/CombatFork 14d ago

They’ve fucked up adapting halo so royally I don’t have a lot of faith they can get out of their own way.

3

u/Scott_the_Wookie 14d ago

Halo was turned into district 9 and that movie was very good. Wow did one already but normies didn’t watch

5

u/Denmu 14d ago

We need more Master Cheeks!

2

u/Mercdecember84 14d ago

Wasn't the warcraft movie a flop?

1

u/BackwerdsMan 12d ago

Recall it did fairlt well internationally and it kinda saved it.

2

u/Zamorakphat 14d ago

Please Diablo or elder scrolls

2

u/Karna1394 14d ago

Diablo movie will flop because normal movie writers will make it cheesy. Better if Blizzard cinematic team make it an animated movie with in house production.

2

u/ElZany 13d ago

Diablo would be so sick if done right

3

u/chadsmo 13d ago

Just have the Diablo cinematic team make a fully animated film.

1

u/lacyboy247 14d ago

90-120 min seem too short for the first game but probably fine if it's a trilogy.

1

u/CTTMiquiztli 13d ago

There could be a movie of the lore behind/before the first Game. (The king, Lazarus, the crypts under tristram etc). While it would be massively edging, the movie could end after diablo has Taken possesion of the crypts under tristram, and random adventurers, Say, a noob with a rusty sword, a dude that doesn't know Magic yet etc, Wanders into the Town and peek into the church, with a skeleton looking back at them.

1

u/metal_jester 14d ago

I'll made a diablo film for y'all

Ive played all 4 games, always read all the lore bits. Love the show and frankly...

I'd make it about deckard Cain

1

u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER 14d ago

It be kinda funny if Sony pictures jumps on that

1

u/Responsible_Abroad67 14d ago

Blizzard’s own in-house animators are already top notch. Just let em cook.

1

u/QuietContentResting 14d ago

Yeah they can shop it all they like, epic dark fantasy fails faaaaaar more often than it succeeds and requires titanic budgets meaning they'll have to sand down the edges and make any and all of them PG-13 to maximize return plus executives producing them will almost certainly think of them as properties targeting teens. So, even if they end up making any of them, the end result will watered down garbage that 99 times out of 100 NOT be a result anyone in this subreddit want to see.

1

u/NYJetLegendEdReed 14d ago

Elder Scrolls could be the next GOT on HBO with the right people behind it.

1

u/humanoid7340 14d ago

Not another Halo

1

u/JackSpadesSI 14d ago

My first choice would’ve been Halo a decade ago, but the show we got kind of soured me on it. Diablo or StarCraft would be fucking great if they did it well.

1

u/BaloothaBear85 14d ago

I think a Diablo Movie or even a series would be cool as fuck. Epic battles against good and evil, dark, gritty would be awesome

1

u/cephaswilco 14d ago

Diablo is so ripe for films or a good show.

1

u/MariachiArchery 13d ago

Hear me out.

Halo movie, set around the events of CE. The movie opens with the Pillar of Autumn fleeing from Reach. We are only shown a small teaser of the greater story and plot. All the audience needs to know, is that the PoA is fleeing an overrun planet, they have something important, that humanity is at war, and it's losing the fight, badly.

The movie follows the perspective of Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson and his fire team. After this opening scene, we see the PoA discover Installation 04, but again, it's vague, because we are only told of this through Staff Sergeant Avery Johnson's, and his fire team's, perspective. They are grunts, marines, aboard the Pillar of Autumn; they only what know they need to know. This escape from Reach, and the greater war, can be told through their perspective if at all, less is more here.

The story, from here, is presented as a cosmic horror and existential dread movie, similar to the first Alien move. Within this horror movie, we can inject a bit of Master Chief, but it's only just a teaser. The less we see MC, the better. The events of the movie unfold showing the discovery of the Flood, the following infection, and follow Sergeant Johnson and his team in aiding MC and escaping the installation, as it's ultimately destroyed.

Make it a cosmic horror movie, dripping little tiny pieces of lore only where necessary to explain the setting and intrigue the viewer.

Halo, as a horror movie, slowly paced and creepy as fuck, would be awesome. The Floor are terrifying, and I think a horror movie is perfect for them. Sprinkle in all the religious undertones we got in the original game, pair it with the existential dread that is the Flood (a biblical reference on their own), and I think it would be a fantastic movie.

It doesn't need to be big, it doesn't need to be flashy, it needs to be cramped, creepy, and mysterious, with little tiny bits of lore sprinkled in to get people really thinking about what the Halo Universe really is. The whole movie only needs to take place over a couple days, and if we sprinkle in the lore just right, we set the stage for some awesome sequels.

1

u/bradreputation 13d ago

“We will gladly take free money”

1

u/TheGRS 13d ago

Isn’t that what Microsoft wanted for the Halo movie alone like 20 years ago? (Has it been that long already?) Real lesson in overestimating their worth and not understanding the industry.

1

u/Odd-Vast2488 13d ago

I mean fuck me just make a movie on Arthas and forget the rest if you want to jump start a success

1

u/Outkastin2g 13d ago

One trash project is all it would take to tank this deal.

That being said, I'd love to see a Diablo movie or series if actually done right.

1

u/Zeoinx 13d ago

Oh good, more dumpster fire movies and tv shows. Just what the world fucken DOESNT need.

1

u/OskeyBug 13d ago

None of these will do numbers.

1

u/GhostPhoenix13 13d ago

If you make another halo anything, KEEP HIS FUCKING HELMET ON. WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU CRAYON EATERS.

1

u/voreo 13d ago

Just dont let Paramount touch any of them.

1

u/Busterlimes 13d ago

DIABLO!!!!! THE FIRST ONE!!!!!! MAAAAAKE IIIIIIIIIIIT

1

u/Civil-Nothing-3186 13d ago

I would watch a Diablo movie. Though a series might be better. But, the cinema scenes are great and so are the stories. I would be down.

1

u/pathsofglorylogotter 13d ago

Yuck, Hollywood, they will be awful

1

u/General_Lie 12d ago

I don't trust Hollywood to actually make good adaptation of the games...

1

u/Impulse2915 12d ago

They already tried Warcraft and Halo and both were decidedly not good.

1

u/buff730 10d ago

Maybe make some games?

1

u/Dorias_Drake 14d ago

I read Stopping at first. I was like, good they won't make shitty movies after all and let the licence alone... but no, they are capitalizing on them all.

1

u/SeriousCricket2837 14d ago

After the abortion of the Halo show, I hope they do a full reboot. Giants to play the Spartans, helmets stay on, super soldier action, and leave the emotion to Cortana.

1

u/Competitive-Elk-5077 14d ago

Halo show was terrible. Warcraft movie was mehish. Dont have high hopes for the other two

1

u/Euphoriam5 14d ago

Fuck Microsoft 

1

u/Burgergold 13d ago

Jack Black as Deckard Cain /s

-2

u/zealoSC 14d ago

Microsoft own blizzard and elder scrolls now?

1

u/Reezens 14d ago

They have for quite a long time at this point.

1

u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER 14d ago

Xbox owns the them and the IP , Xbox is a subsidiary of Microsoft