Ninja Theory og Arkane Studios kan angivelig bli lagt ned av Xbox

Yesterday's news that Microsoft is considering shutting down two of its Xbox gaming divisions— one of which is likely to be Compulsion Games, the creators of South of Midnight—sent shockwaves through the internet. However, it turns out that other, more prominent studios might also be at risk.

Several sources have recently reported that additional gaming divisions owned by Microsoft might be at risk of shutting down. In particular, The Verge published a report claiming that Xbox has decided to close Ninja Theory, the studio behind the Hellblade franchise, which announced a new game set in the same universe— Senua —earlier this month. However, Microsoft has yet to confirm the closure, and if it does happen, the fate of the upcoming game remains uncertain.

Additionally, a French journalist from BFM revealed that Arkane Studios is also at risk of shutting down, and this threat is "closer than we think." Arkane Studios, known for developing the Dishonored series, is currently working on Marvel's Blade. Recently, rumors surfaced suggesting that the game might be canceled, but studio representatives have assured that it is still in development. However, due to the uncertainty surrounding the studio's future, the fate of the game remains uncertain as well.

"I’m not a famous American insider, but I can confirm this: the closure of Arkane Studio isn’t 'a potential risk'; it’s a reality much closer than you might think."

Bloomberg also released a new report on the matter, stating that the aforementioned studios—Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine (known for the Psychonauts game series)— have reportedly begun talks with Xbox about becoming independent in order to avoid closures. However, Jason Schreier notes that these are not the only Xbox studios at risk of being shut down.

The initial information about the closure of two Xbox studios was revealed by Insider Gaming representative Mike Straw, who added that the shutdown of one of them "will shock players." Later, he deleted his post from the social network Bluesky and then apologized for his message.

We can only hope that the aforementioned games, Senua and Marvel's Blade from Ninja Theory and Arkane Studios, respectively, will not be canceled and that both parties will reach a compromise. Both projects look intriguing: it was recently revealed that the Senua will be the biggest project in the franchise and will offer a more open world than the previous two games.

Are you disappointed that Ninja Theory and Arkane Studios might be shut down by Xbox? Share your thoughts in the comments below!