Xbox Shuts Down Hellblade Developer Ninja Theory
▼ Summary
– Xbox is shutting down Ninja Theory, the studio behind the *Hellblade* series, with staff informed on a Monday call.
– Staff at Ninja Theory hope to find a buyer for the studio following the closure announcement.
– Several other Xbox studios, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine, are in active negotiations to spin off from Microsoft.
– The closures and negotiations follow Xbox leadership warning of a “reset” and acknowledging the company had “over extended” its studio system.
– Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty laid out several business challenges, including hardware issues, in a recent announcement.
Xbox has shut down Ninja Theory, the acclaimed developer behind the Hellblade series, according to a source familiar with the matter. Staff were informed of the closure during a call on Monday, though the team is reportedly hoping a buyer will step in before the studio dissolves entirely. This move comes as “several” Xbox studios within Microsoft, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine, are currently in “active negotiations” regarding potential spin-offs, as reported by Bloomberg.
The closure and ongoing spin-off talks follow a stark warning from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty last week. In a public address, they outlined a sweeping “reset” for Xbox, acknowledging that the company had “over extended” with its studio network and faced ongoing challenges with hardware sales. The message signaled a significant restructuring ahead, with Ninja Theory now the first confirmed casualty.
(Source: The Verge)
