Microsoft-owned Ninja Theory has started laying people off, and Xbox fans are now seeing employees publicly confirm redundancies and at-risk roles at the Cambridge studio after Microsoft’s Xbox division kicked off its July restructuring.
That comes on the heels of Xbox’s July reshuffle, which was widely reported to involve about 3,200 job cuts. It also follows two reported attempts to sell Ninja Theory that apparently went nowhere, based on comments attributed to Xbox Game Studios chief Matt Booty. Microsoft is still consulting on a proposed closure rather than carrying out a formal shutdown, but LinkedIn posts from Ninja Theory staffers Daniele Galante, Katrin Mair, and Stefano Prosperi make it clear the process is now landing directly on employees.
The timing stands out. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II launched in May 2024 and drew heavy praise for its visuals and sound, but reports say it didn’t place especially high on the sales charts. With that in mind, the newly revealed Senua project now looks less likely to make it to completion.
If you keep an eye on Xbox’s first-party studios, this one needs attention. Ninja Theory’s future, at least in anything like its current form, is still hard to read, and the fallout may not stop with a single team.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is out now on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Author: Emmanuel Bosque
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