Well, this sure is a terrible time for the gaming industry isn't it. Now it's Microsoft turn again to close multiple studios. As first posted by IGN who managed to get a copy of an internal email sent by Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, the studios themselves have now confirmed it's all true across various posts on X (formerly Twitter).
The studios that have been announced that will be closing are:
- Tango Gameworks who made The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Hero Dice and Hi-Fi Rush.
- Alpha Dog Studios who made multiple mobiles games like Mighty DOOM (which will shut) and Wraithborne.
- Roundhouse Games (reformed from Human Head Studios) but they will be joining up with ZeniMax Online Studios.
- Arkane Austin who made Redfall but "some" of their team will be placed elsewhere in Bethesda. As a result, Redfall will get no more updates now. However, Arkane Lyon are still going and working on games.
Such a shame to see more studios get the chop, especially odd is Tango Gameworks because Hi-Fi Rush was quite a hit overall even though it was completely surprise released. And since according to Microsoft it "was a break out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations".
Statements on X from: Tango Gameworks, Arkane Studios, and Alpha Dog Games.
Remind me again why game industry consolidation is a good thing? Because it never seems like it is. These massive companies buy up various other publishers and developers, force them into box-ticking exercises for every penny they can get and then shut them all down. I'm tired of seeing it.
This news comes only days after GTA 6 publisher Take-Two shuts Roll7 and Intercept Games.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Turkeysteaks May 7
gradyvuckovic May 7
WHY?
What is with companies like Microsoft, Sony, Epic, Ubisoft, EA, etc. Are they just opposed to the concept of 'good things in gaming'?
I hope all the talent from those studios were shifted into other studios and not just lost.
Terrible for everyone who's affected - I hope that they'll all land on their feet with companies that'll appreciate their talents!
Last edited by Pengling on 7 May 2024 at 3:17 pm UTC
Quoting: gradyvuckovicAre they just opposed to the concept of 'good things in gaming'?
Unless it's the concept of rising revenue/profits/stock-prices, they don't care.
This is hearbreaking as these were good dev studio for most of them...
Quoting: gradyvuckovicWhy on Earth would you close down the studio that made Hi-Fi Rush?
WHY?
What is with companies like Microsoft, Sony, Epic, Ubisoft, EA, etc. Are they just opposed to the concept of 'good things in gaming'?
I hope all the talent from those studios were shifted into other studios and not just lost.
I wondered the same thing and read about the studio a bit this morning. To me, it sounds like this was inevitable once Microsoft acquired them; even if they stayed open they probably wouldn't have stayed like they were -- kind of like Rare.
I guess Shinji Mikami, the "big name" in that studio, had wanted to leave for years but felt a personal responsibility to the developers there. I guess once Microsoft took over, despite still having a producer-esque title he was treated like a regular employee instead. While he himself never linked his several statements, he left right after Hi-Fi Rush was released and started a new studio.
So in my mind it's not hard to paint a picture of what happened here and motivations. "Yay" Microsoft and the corporate machine?
Mountain Man May 7
Were they forced somehow?
Quoting: kokoko3kSomebody can explain me why they sold themselves in the first place?
Were they forced somehow?
According to what I read earlier this morning they were in some sort of financial trouble, though at least what I read didn't really give any details. It probably also pays to remember that they didn't actually sell to Microsoft, they sold themselves to Zenimax/Bethesda, so were in turn aquired by Microsoft that way.
Yup, buy these companies for for their portfolios and brands, and the talent pool goes into resource management hell.
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