Xbox to Sell Arkane

At least 5 game studios are reportedly being considered for closure under a massive cost-cutting strategy at Microsoft. The picture that emerges from reports by The Verge is a brutal reset of Xbox, led by executive Asha Sharma.

This sweeping restructure is rumored to put at least 1,000 jobs at risk across the gaming division. Among the studios on the chopping block is Arkane, the acclaimed developer behind Dishonored and Prey, Microsoft is reportedly considering either shutting Arkane down or selling the studio off entirely to salvage its talent.

The panic inside Xbox stems from Arkane's upcoming vampire game, Marvel's Blade, which has run over budget. Its unannounced release date has reportedly slipped from this year, all the way to late 2027.

Bethesda's Todd Howard defended the studio last week, saying they were doing a "really, really good job," but Xbox leadership may still pull the plug.