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Microsoft announced it closed several studios under its Bethesda and Zenimax branches, including Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin. Some of the affected developers will be let go, while others will be folded into other teams in order to “[prioritize] high impact titles” (Thanks, IGN and @Jasonschreier!)
Arkane Austin’s most recent title was the vampire-themed multiplayer shooter Redfall that released to widespread disappointment, but the studio was perhaps better known for 2017’s sci-fi immersive sim Prey. Redfall itself will no longer be updated, but will remain online. Players who purchased battle passes or premium editions will be eligible to receive remuneration.
On Twitter, Arkane Lyon Co-Creative Director Dinga Bakaba lamented to closure of his studio’s sister team and criticized the excutive decision-makers behind it.
Permission to be human : to any executive reading this, friendly reminder that video games are an entertainment/cultural industry, and your business as a corporation is to take care of your artists/entertainers and help them create value for you.
Dinga Bakaba, Arkane Lyon Studio/Co-Creative Director
Tango, meanwhile, produced games like The Evil Within series and Ghostwire: Tokyo before “shadow dropping” Hi-Fi Rush in 2023. Other studios to close include the mobile-focused Alpha Dog Games and Roundhouse Games, the latter of which will have its staff folded into the Elder Scrolls: Online development team.
You can find Tango Gameworks’ official announcement embedded below:
Microsoft also recently announced an upcoming patch for Starfield, set to release on May 15, 2024. Meanwhile back in March, Blizzard’s Diablo 4 became the first of the studio’s games to join the Xbox Game Pass library.
Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin have been closed down by Microsoft. Both Hi-Fi Rush and Redfall will continue to be available but will not receive any further updates.
