Earlier this week, Microsoft announced a number of their studios were being shuttered, including Arkane Austin (Prey, Redfall), Tango Gameworks (The Evil Within, Hi-Fi Rush), and Alpha Dog Games, while Roundhouse Studios will be absorbed into ZeniMax Online Studios to work on The Elder Scrolls Online.
This follows nearly 1,900 layoffs earlier in the year, largely from Microsoft’s newly-acquired Activision Blizzard teams. Unfortunately, it seems this isn’t the end of the pain.
According to Bloomberg’s reliable Jason Schreier, folks across the Xbox organization have been told more cuts are on the way.
It’s unclear at the moment which divisions will be affected, or if any more studio closures could be in the cards. Related Story Arkane Austin Studio Director Gives Emotional Goodbye to Colleagues, Wonders about the ‘Sweet Spot’ Team SizeWhile it was already fairly clear, according to Schreier’s reporting the closing of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks came as a shock to employees, as both studios were actually in the process of pitching new games and staffing up for future development.
Tango was said to be pitching a sequel to Hi-Fi Rush, while Arkane was pitching a new single-player immersive sim in the vein of the Dishonored games.