Xbox Shuts Down Studios After Massive Activision Blizzard Purchase
Xbox shook the gaming industry with its massive acquisition of Call of Duty publisher Activision Blizzard for nearly $70 billion last year. The promise of bringing more games to a wider audience seemed like a game-changer. However, the aftermath of the deal left many stunned as Xbox took the controversial decision to lay off almost 2,000 developers shortly after the acquisition.
Xbox Layoffs and Studio Closures
On May 7th, Xbox dropped another bombshell by announcing the closure of four studios, including some that developed Xbox’s most popular exclusives. Tango Gameworks, the developer behind the breakout hit Hi-Fi Rush, faced shutdown despite critical acclaim and impressive sales figures. The studio was known for its work on beloved titles like Ghostwire: Tokyo and The Evil Within.
Alpha Dog Games, the studio behind the mobile game Mighty Doom, also met the same fate and the game is set to be discontinued on August 7th. The closure of Arkane Austin and Roundhouse Studios, the developers responsible for the Xbox exclusive Redfall, sparked outrage among fans. Redfall, a highly anticipated title, was still receiving updates and had an ongoing season pass promising more content until the unexpected shutdown.
The Fallout of Studio Closures
Arkane Austin, the main creative force behind Redfall, had previously delivered exceptional games like Prey. The sudden closure of the studio halted all ongoing development for Redfall, leaving players disappointed. The studio assured players who purchased the season pass of a refund, although the details are yet to be clarified officially.
In a statement, Arkane expressed, “Redfall players who purchased the Hero Pass as part of the premium Bite Back Edition or the premium Bite Back upgrade will be eligible to receive the value of the upgrade. While there will be no further updates, Redfall’s servers will remain online for players to enjoy.”
If you are interested in more Xbox-related updates, make sure to explore the latest free update for Starfield. For comprehensive reviews on other Xbox releases, visit Central Recorder’s gaming section.