It seems as if Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory aren’t the only studios Xbox might get rid of.
According to a report from The Verge, Microsoft will soon announce another wave of layoffs for Xbox studios and employees. This could lead to Arkane Studios and Undead Labs getting the axe.
Best known for its Dishonored series, Arkane Studios is currently working on Marvel’s Blade. However, the game is in danger of being cancelled, though it could remain viable if Microsoft instead decides to spin off Arkane as a separate studio.
Undead Labs also reportedly finds itself in the same position. As with Arkane, Microsoft is reportedly trying to find a buyer for Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay. These talks could take months, and there’s no guarantee the two studios will remain open.
Combined with Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory, that’s five studios that might close their doors as a result of the alleged layoffs. This would affect at least 500 employees, and that’s before the wider cuts that could affect at least 1,000 additional employees.
In all, it’s a bleak time to be an Xbox fan. In comments made earlier in June, new CEO Asha Sharma warned of “making hard choices” for Xbox.
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