Xbox has multiple deals on Arkane Studios games, the folks behind the new Blade game

Xbox recently carried out a round of mass layoffs that led to the closure or spin-off of several studios. Among these was Arkane Studios, developers of the Dishonored franchise and who, currently, were working on the new Blade game. But because of French legislation, which protects workers’ rights in a way that makes these closures unworkable, they haven’t been able to lay them off without first looking for a possible solution that doesn’t involve its closure. And according to recent reports, they may have found not one, but several.

Three possible buyers (or four, depending on how you read it)

According to Bloomberg, up to three potential buyers may be interested in acquiring the company based in Lyon. Although the names of two of them haven’t been revealed, since the sources didn’t want them disclosed for fear of exposing themselves, we do know the third. And it’s French too. It’s Ubisoft, which over the last year and a half has carried out multiple rounds of layoffs and has restructured its company into creative houses to gain tighter control over production.

Xbox Download

If Ubisoft were to finally buy Arkane Lyon, it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve worked together. Arkane Studios already worked with Ubisoft on one of the company’s franchises, when they were still led by Raphaël Colantonio —who left the company in November 2019 to start a new studio, WolfEye Studio—, resulting in the divisive Dark Messiah of Might and Magic. A game which, while it’s now considered a cult title and a masterpiece of Action RPGs, can’t really be called a huge success with critics or the public.

With Microsoft having extended the deadline until December, it seems possible that an agreement can be reached. Especially since there’s also the possibility that Microsoft sell the studio to its management team and that, according to Bloomberg, it expects Blade to be ready for release by 2027 or, at the latest, 2028. So, with a game based on a popular franchise nearing release, Arkane Lyon is right now a very attractive acquisition target that it’s hard to imagine nobody being interested in.

Author: Álvaro Arbonés

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