Deathloop
News, coverage and analysis tracking Deathloop across the outlets.
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Xbox's first chief operating officer Helen Chiang leaves Microsoft just three months into the job
Helen Chiang, Xbox's first chief operating officer, has departed Microsoft just three months after assuming the role. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed the news in an internal memo, citing Chiang's 21 years of service but offering no specific reason for her departure. This move comes amidst a significant restructuring within Xbox that included layoffs and studios becoming independent.
Dishonored and Deathloop studio has 22 days to save itself from corporate extinction
Arkane Studios, the developer behind Dishonored and Deathloop, is facing a critical 22-day period that could determine its survival amidst corporate restructuring. The article questions whether the studio can be saved from potential closure.
As devastating Xbox "reset" continues, Dishonored studio Arkane Lyon reportedly only has until November to find a new buyer before it's closed
Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop, is reportedly facing closure by November if a buyer is not found, following significant layoffs at Xbox. Microsoft acquired ZeniMax, which owned Arkane, in 2021. The studio's current project, Marvel's Blade, is reportedly still in development but its future is uncertain amidst these potential closures.
Marvel's Blade 'nearing the end' of production as Arkane faces closure
Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop, faces potential closure by November 13, 2026, if a buyer is not found, as part of Microsoft's broader Xbox layoffs. The studio's upcoming game, Marvel's Blade, is reportedly nearing the end of its production phase, leading to concerns about the financial and artistic waste if the studio is shut down.
Xbox negotiations with Marvel's Blade developer Arkane reportedly aren't going well, and that could mean the Dishonored studio shutting down next month
Negotiations between Arkane Studios and Xbox regarding the future of the Dishonored developer are reportedly not progressing well, with a November 13 deadline looming for a decision. Reports suggest Microsoft is looking to sell the studio, and while buyers are being sought, a shutdown is also a possibility, impacting 217 jobs and the near-completion of Marvel's Blade.
Arkane Lyon Could Be Shut Down Within Weeks As Deadline To Find A Buyer Looms
Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Marvel's Blade, is reportedly facing closure if a buyer is not found by November 13. Microsoft is obligated to search for a buyer under French law, but negotiations are reportedly not going well. The studio has a 27-year history, having developed titles like Dishonored and Deathloop.
Arkane survival negotiations reportedly seeing "several forms of takeover" considered ahead of November deadline, as Marvel's Blade production nears end
Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop, is reportedly considering several takeover options as Microsoft's divorce from the studio approaches a November deadline. With 217 jobs at risk, unions are expressing dissatisfaction with Microsoft's handling of the negotiations, though production on Marvel's Blade is nearing completion.
Asha Sharma reportedly tells rattled Xbox employees: "We have to find new ways, and courage, to have invention on new IP"
Xbox leader Asha Sharma reportedly stated that the company must innovate and create new intellectual property to survive, rather than solely relying on existing franchises. This comes despite recent studio closures and consolidations that have impacted developers known for creating new game ideas.
No Law might be the open-world Deus Ex that Cyberpunk 2077 wasn't
While Cyberpunk 2077 has been significantly improved, it doesn't fully deliver on its initial promise of an immersive sim experience. The new game No Law from Neon Giant, creators of The Ascent, shows potential to be the open-world Deus Ex-like game that Cyberpunk 2077 wasn't, with a focus on player choice and dense world design.
Fear The Timeloop Review | TheXboxHub
Fear The Timeloop is a survival horror game that utilizes a time-loop mechanic, trapping players as Sheriff James Cooper in a 15-minute cycle to solve a mystery. While the narrative setup and 90s survival horror atmosphere are praised, the combat and temporal lock mechanics are criticized for being frustrating and loose.
Xbox confirms 268 more layoffs, further studio closures, and Obsidian's shift to Bethesda as major restructuring continues
Xbox has confirmed 268 additional layoffs and further studio closures as part of its ongoing restructuring. This follows previous significant job cuts, with some studios facing proposed closure and others being reorganized under different leadership, including Bethesda overseeing Obsidian Entertainment.
"Arkane was about to go under" before it committed to Dishonored, former lead says: "We had 4 months of…
Former Arkane Studios lead designer Harvey Smith revealed that the studio was close to closure before committing to the development of Dishonored. The studio was working on multiple projects with dwindling funds before refocusing on the immersive sim, which became a critical and commercial success. Smith has since co-founded a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, to continue making single-player immersive sim games.
Former Arkane Studios leads Harvey Smith & Ben Horne launch Black Pony Immersive game studio
Former Arkane Studios leads Harvey Smith and Ben Horne have launched a new game studio called Black Pony Immersive, which will focus on developing immersive simulation games. The studio aims to push the genre's limits, drawing on their experience with titles like Dishonored and Prey. Despite acknowledging challenging market conditions, the team is committed to creating ambitious games.
Dishonored Director Announces New Studio, And Fans Should Be Very Excited
Veteran game developers Harvey Smith and Ben Horne have announced the formation of Black Pony Immersive, a new studio focused on creating first-person action-RPGs in well-realized worlds. Smith, a co-creator of the Dishonored series, aims to continue the legacy of immersive sims, a genre that has seen fewer releases in recent years. The studio will be based in Austin, Texas, the same location as Arkane Studios.
You can now play the secret best immersive sim in coop thanks to this mod
A new mod called Prey Coop allows up to 16 players to experience Arkane Studios' immersive sim Prey together on PC. The mod synchronizes campaign progression, story choices, and world physics, though it is still in alpha with some known issues. This unofficial addition enables cooperative play for a game traditionally designed for solo experiences.
Xbox leadership's words are drowned out by their actions
Despite assurances from Xbox leadership, the company's actions, including mass layoffs and studio closures, paint a grim picture for its talent and future projects. While executives like Asha Sharma mention upcoming games like The Elder Scrolls 6, these words are seen as empty promises contrasting with the reality of job cuts at studios like id Software and Bethesda.
Thief designer says that the immersive sim audience is too small for AAA games: 'There's quite a few of us who…
Designer Randy Smith Evergreen, known for his work on Thief and System Shock 2, argues that the immersive sim genre is too small for AAA development. He believes that the increasing budgets and scope required for AAA games are misaligned with the niche audience for immersive sims, leading to commercial disappointments like Arkane's Dishonored 2 and Prey. Evergreen suggests that a more viable path for immersive sims is through smaller, AA or indie budgets, citing the original Thief's modest budget as a successful model.
20 years ago, Dead Rising showed a different path for open worlds, and more games should pinch its ideas
Twenty years after its release, Dead Rising's unique approach to open-world design, featuring a strict time limit and dynamic events, is highlighted as a missed opportunity for innovation in modern games. Unlike contemporaries like Oblivion, Dead Rising's world progressed independently of player actions, creating a sense of urgency and replayability through its New Game+ system. While many open-world games have since adopted a more static, player-driven timeline, Dead Rising's time-sensitive structure and focus on emergent gameplay remain a fertile ground for fresh ideas.
Double Fine Productions suffers layoffs weeks after going independent
Double Fine Productions has laid off 23 employees, nearly 25% of its workforce, just weeks after becoming an independent studio following its separation from Xbox. The studio stated the layoffs were necessary for its survival and to adjust to its new size as an independent entity. This follows Xbox's broader restructuring efforts which have also impacted other studios.
Summary: what's happening at Xbox?
Xbox announced a major restructuring involving 3,200 job cuts, with 1,600 immediate layoffs, primarily affecting ZeniMax studios like Bethesda and id Software. Several studios, including Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs, are being sold off or spun out as independent entities. This move aims to refocus on high-earning franchises and improve profit margins, impacting the development of upcoming titles like The Elder Scrolls 6 and potentially State of Decay 3.
