What Xbox's Ninja Theory Closure Means for Hellblade Fans
The closure means Hellblade fans may never see the studio's in-progress project, and the wider Xbox restructure signals more layoffs could hit other beloved teams in the coming months.
The closure means Hellblade fans may never see the studio's in-progress project, and the wider Xbox restructure signals more layoffs could hit other beloved teams in the coming months.
Key points - Xbox announced last month it intends to close Hellblade developer Ninja Theory after two rescue deals failed. - Staff including gameplay programmer Katrin Mair and technical director Loong-Wei Ding have posted farewell messages on LinkedIn. - Technical sound designer Alessio Mellina is at risk of redundancy after 12 years working on Hellblade's binaural audio. - Microsoft announced Senua, the third Hellblade game, at the June Xbox Games Showcase. - According to Matt Booty, Xbox is three quarters through planned restructures, suggesting more layoffs ahead.
Timeline - June: Microsoft announces Senua, the third Hellblade game, at the Xbox Games Showcase. - Last month: Xbox announces its intention to close Ninja Theory after two deals to save the company fall through. - Now: Ninja Theory staff begin posting farewell messages on LinkedIn as layoffs begin.
FAQ
Q: Is Ninja Theory definitely closing? A: Xbox announced last month its intention to close the studio after two deals to save the company didn't pan out. Layoffs have now begun.
Q: Will Senua, the third Hellblade game, still release? A: It's widely speculated the June trailer was meant to attract buyers, since Microsoft reportedly had no plans to publish the title.
Q: Why are other Xbox studios changing too? A: Xbox is restructuring: Halo now sits with Activision, World's Edge and Rare moved under Activision, and Obsidian is now a Bethesda studio.
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