Report: Arkane Lyon Must Find a Buyer by November 13 or Face Closure
A new French report claims that Microsoft has given Arkane Lyon until November 13 to find a buyer, or the studio will be shut down as part of the current wave of Xbox layoffs.
A new French report claims that Microsoft has set a deadline for the closure of Arkane Lyon as part of the current wave of layoffs hitting the company's gaming division, which was announced by current Xbox CEO Asha Sharma last July. According to the report, Arkane Lyon must find a buyer to save the studio by November 13, or it will be shut down. In an interview, a source familiar with the matter stated that this is a move in which Microsoft "left no one any choice."
The French studio Arkane Lyon joined Microsoft's gaming division in 2021 through the acquisition of its parent organization, ZeniMax Group. The studio currently employs around 200 people. Arkane Lyon's history includes several beloved franchises, such as the Dishonored series and two Wolfenstein spin-off games. Over the years, the company also developed the well-liked Deathloop and the excellent Prey, though it unfortunately experienced some major failures like Redfall, which is considered one of the worst game launches in recent years. Additionally, the studio is supposed to be developing Marvel's Blade, which is currently suffering from significant development difficulties and major budget overruns. At this moment, the future of the project remains unclear if the studio does indeed close next month.