Microsoft has signalled its intention to shut down Hellblade developer Ninja Theory after two offers to save the Xbox studio fell by way of.
In-line with UK employment regulation, a session with the employees at the Cambridge-based studio has begun. Whereas Microsoft has mentioned it’s now working to shut the studio, it stays open to an settlement to rescue the firm.
“Sadly, two separate agreements for Ninja Theory fell by way of,” Xbox Chief Content material Officer Matt Booty mentioned in a weblog submit issued right now. “We’ll now start session with staff on a proposed closure whereas persevering with to discover different paths ahead.”
In June, at an Xbox Video games Showcase occasion, Microsoft introduced Senua, the third recreation in the Hellblade sequence. At the time, there was little concern about the recreation’s launch. Certainly, there was little concern, publicly at the least, about Ninja Theory itself.
However that each one modified when optimism sparked by the constructive showcase was shattered by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s “reset” memo, which urged mass layoffs and studio closures have been to come. Affirmation got here in July, when Ninja Theory was amongst the studios on the Xbox chopping block.
Amid the reviews, followers expressed confusion at how Microsoft might announce Senua from Ninja Theory after which simply days later inform the studio’s employees it deliberate to shut the firm down. In accordance to Game File, Microsoft allegedly deliberate to shut or spin off Ninja Theory when it revealed Senua, and it did so pondering that “the promise of a newly introduced recreation would assist draw investor curiosity in the studio.”
Clearly, that plan has failed.
Will Senua ever come out? IGN has but to remark, but it surely’s trying more and more unlikely except a dramatic, Eleventh-hour deal could be struck that might save not simply the studio, however the Hellblade franchise. Maybe giving Ninja Theory hope is that Psychonauts developer Double Wonderful and South of Midnight developer Compulsion each navigated their method to independence and introduced their mental property together with them, as properly as funding for brand new video games. Microsoft, it appears, is keen to half with IP to assist get its studios out the door.
Ninja Theory’s Hellblade video games have struggled commercially, and Microsoft is at present doubling down on its massive franchises in a bid to increase income and profitability. It’s specializing in the likes of Minecraft, Halo (which is now beneath Activision’s umbrella), Fallout, and The Elder Scrolls as it appears to be like to flip round the Xbox enterprise over the subsequent few years.
For extra on all the massive adjustments at Xbox introduced right now, take a look at our roundup.
Wesley Yin-Poole
Director, Information
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You may attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.