4 studios disappear
It's a decision that is difficult to swallow in a context where Microsoft is far from being a loss-making company, even if we only take into account the Xbox division. While we were waiting for good news from Hi-Fi Rushincluding a potential Switch version, the manufacturer has decided to stop the costs and financing of Tango Gameworks, the studio to which we owe one of the best games of 2023. Not to mention Ghostwire Tokyo Or The Evil Within.
And not just Tango Gameworks. A total of 4 studios from Bethesda will cease to exist, with Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Studios and Roundhouse Games. In the case of Arkane, the Paris team is fortunately not affected by this closure and will be able to continue its work on Marvel's Blade. For the lesser known Alpha Dog Studios, this was the studio behind the mobile title Mighty Doom. And finally, Roundhouse disappears as such, but its team is apparently absorbed into Zenimax Online Studios to help out on The Elder Scrolls Online.
Advertisement
Talent is little in the face of consolidation
Here is the email sent by Matt Booty, who takes care of Xbox Game Studios:
“ Today I'm sharing the changes we're making to our Bethesda and ZeniMax teams. These changes are based on prioritizing titles with big potential and further investment in our portfolio of beloved Bethesda hit games that you have enjoyed for many decades. To double down on these licenses and invest in creating new ones, we need to look across the entire business to identify the opportunities best positioned for success. This reprioritization of titles and resources means that some teams will be realigned with others and that some of our colleagues will leave us. »
What we understand from this email is that Bethesda will focus less on games with smaller budgets, and that the future will be mainly centered on Starfield, fallout And The Elder Scrolls. Matt Booty mentions new licenses, but it's hard to really believe it.
At Arkane Austin, some people will be reassigned, like at Roundhouse Games, but for Tango Gameworks and Alpha Dog Studios, it is simply mentioned that these studios are closing. If we know that Hi-Fi Rush was not a thunderous commercial success, it was despite one of the spearheads of the Xbox brand, while being one of the games chosen to be released on other platforms in order to maximize its revenues. Seeing the studio close a year after releasing such a renowned game is certainly heartbreaking.
A situation not unlike that of Take-Two with Private Division, which shows that it doesn't matter if you work in a studio that has given birth to renowned titles throughout the industry, you are still a target when It's about maximizing profits.
Advertisement
Redfall stops fees
And what becomes Redfall In all of this ? Well, we grant you, that's the least of your worries when you see lots of talented people finding themselves unemployed overnight even though they are part of a multi-billion dollar company. But news about the vampire game was shared on the heels of Arkane Austin's closure.
Funny anniversary for the title, which was treated to a catastrophic launch. Microsoft had admitted that everything had not gone as planned but it had assured not to drop the title, in order to make it a pillar of Xbox Game Pass in the coming years. This ultimately will not happen, since the updates promised for Redfall are simply canceled.
The game will remain online with servers still present until further notice, but no longer wait for the bonuses and DLC promised in the past. Those who purchased the Bite Back edition will be able to receive a refund. Not for the full game, but for the surplus paid for this edition.
Sign up here https://t.co/wb1R4m4emj to receive details on how eligible players can receive this credit. pic.twitter.com/69Os17kpQ8
— Arkane Studios (@ArkaneStudios) May 7, 2024
There is no doubt that the next Xbox Games Showcase will have a very special flavor, with a bitter aftertaste despite the line-up that will be announced.