Technology

Microsoft Shuts Down Bethesda Studios Including Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks

May 7, 2024 1 min read

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Microsoft has confirmed the closure of several game development studios, including Arkane Austin, known for Redfall, and Tango Gameworks, the team behind Hi-Fi Rush. The closures, which also impact Alpha Dog Studios and Roundhouse Games, are part of a strategic shift to prioritize the development of high-impact titles within Bethesda's portfolio of games. The announcement was made by Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, who communicated the changes via email to affected staff.

The closure of these studios will result in the discontinuation of updates for certain games, including Redfall, and the merging of Roundhouse Games with ZeniMax Online Studios, which is focused on The Elder Scrolls Online. This realignment of resources is expected to lead to layoffs, although some team members will be reassigned to other projects within the company. The email from Booty highlighted the goal of this move as an investment in the blockbuster games and worlds that Bethesda is known for.

This news follows a recent pattern of layoffs in the gaming industry, including a previous round of job cuts by Microsoft earlier in the year. The company had announced the layoff of 1,900 staff members following the completion of its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. As part of the current changes, in-app purchases for the mobile game Mighty Doom will be discontinued on August 7th, although the service will remain online for the time being.

#tech #gaming #xbox

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