A new report claims that Microsoft had already planned to close Hellblade studio Ninja Theory before the studio revealed its latest game, Senua, during the Xbox Games Showcase earlier this month. The revelation comes amid mounting fears of widespread layoffs across Xbox.
Background of Layoffs
After Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a sharp decline in revenue for Microsoft's gaming division over recent years, expectations of imminent layoffs have grown. Evidence of incoming cutbacks began to emerge this week, with two senior Xbox executives abruptly departing Microsoft on Monday, followed by reports that multiple Xbox studios are facing closure.
Ninja Theory's Situation
While Microsoft has not confirmed which studios are affected, new context has surfaced regarding Ninja Theory, one of the developers reportedly in the firing line. According to Game File, Microsoft had already planned to 'sunset or split with' Ninja Theory prior to the Senua reveal. The announcement was allegedly intended to help draw investor interest in the studio before the split.
It remains unclear whether anyone within Ninja Theory was aware of this plan. Xbox may have been stringing the studio along under false pretenses, knowing that Senua might never see release. This report aligns with some odd circumstances surrounding the game's reveal.
Senua's Multiplatform Announcement
Despite Xbox's pivot back to exclusive games, Senua was announced as a multiplatform title for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. This contradicts Xbox executives' claims that games like Gears Of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are console exclusives because they had not previously announced a PlayStation 5 version.
Name Change and IP Issues
Additionally, the third Hellblade title has been renamed to 'Senua,' which could be due to IP technicalities or, less cynically, its action-focused slant compared to previous titles.
Wider Impact
According to insider NateTheHate, the layoffs at Xbox will only accelerate in the coming weeks. 'Expect more blood to be spilled by [Microsoft] in the coming days/weeks,' he wrote on ResetEra. While NateTheHate did not specify other studios at risk, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier previously mentioned Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory as being under threat, noting that none were safe from layoffs or closure.
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