All articles tagged with #studio closure
Microsoft's Xbox is undertaking a strategic reset after a memo warning of a stretched studio pipeline, revealing plans to shut down Compulsion Games and noting departures of top Xbox Game Studios leaders, while also cutting Game Pass prices and prioritizing exclusive releases and new IP over the next five years.
Ubisoft plans to close two studios (Winnipeg and Belgrade) and cut up to 380 positions as part of a broader restructuring that also reshapes its Global Publishing and Barcelona operations to focus on Rainbow Six projects. With over 15,000 employees, the company’s 2026 slate is thinner and several titles are delayed, following a $1 billion Tencent bailout and ongoing leadership and strategic changes that have sparked employee frustration.
Ubisoft has closed its Belgrade studio, laying off about 100 employees as part of a broader restructuring that has also affected Ubisoft Winnipeg; the Belgrade team had worked on titles including Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Wildlands, The Crew 2, Rainbow Six, and Skull & Bones.
Wildlight Entertainment is reportedly issuing PS5 refunds for Highguard as the studio shutters its doors, with Sony emails indicating money spent on the game's battle pass and skins is being returned; it’s unclear if refunds extend to other platforms or all players, and the game’s brief run came after layoffs and a rushed launch that may have spurred funding concerns and the studio’s eventual disappearance.
Former Firaxis lead Jake Solomon closes Midsummer Studios after a brief run, sharing pre-alpha footage of the unreleased Burbank project; he notes AI-assisted character memory, reasoning and speech, while insisting art was fully created by human artists and the team had no intention of replacing developers, following a $6 million funding round from Transcend Fund and others.
Harvey Smith, a veteran game designer and former Arkane studio director, reflects on the closure of Arkane Studios by Microsoft following the poor performance of Redfall, emphasizing the unpredictability of creative efforts and expressing concern for the junior staff affected by the shutdown. He also discusses the challenges of online feedback and the potential missed opportunities with updates and unreleased projects like a Blade Runner game.
Bad Brain Game Studios, founded by former Ubisoft developers, is shutting down on November 17 due to lack of funding after Netease withdrew support, marking another setback for Western-focused game studios in China.
NetEase's MMO studio Fantastic Pixel Castle, led by former WoW designer Greg Street, is shutting down after failing to secure additional funding, with the studio's flagship project, Ghost, still in early development. The closure reflects broader industry challenges, including layoffs and strategic shifts by major gaming companies in 2025.
Heart Machine, a game studio based in Los Angeles, has announced layoffs and is winding down development on its early access game Hyper Light Breaker due to broader industry challenges, but plans to release a final, polished version in January 2024.
The Outsiders, a game studio founded by Battlefield veteran David Goldfarb, is shutting down due to wider cuts at its parent company Funcom, despite recent successes like Metal: Hellsinger and plans for future projects. Goldfarb and his team are determined to continue in some new form, emphasizing resilience despite the challenges faced.
The Outsiders, the studio behind Metal Hellsinger, is closing after 10 years due to layoffs at Funcom, which is shifting focus to Dune: Awakening, with affected staff seeking new opportunities.
Romero Games has closed its studio and canceled its upcoming FPS project due to loss of funding amid Microsoft layoffs, but there is still interest in the game and hope for future development, with the CTO emphasizing support for former staff.
Romero Games, founded by John and Brenda Romero, has closed after Microsoft withdrew funding for its in-development FPS, affecting over 100 staff, despite no prior indication of the decision during recent meetings. The studio was close to announcing new projects, but the closure highlights ongoing industry layoffs and the uncertain future of game development projects. The company is exploring alternative funding options, but currently, the studio is shut down.
Romero Games, an Ireland-based game studio founded by John and Brenda Romero, has been completely closed following Microsoft’s recent layoffs and project cancellations, resulting in over 100 employees losing their jobs. The studio was working on an Unreal Engine 5 shooter, but funding was pulled after Microsoft ended its publishing agreement, leaving the project and studio operations halted. The situation reflects broader layoffs and cancellations across Microsoft’s gaming division.
Romero Games, an Irish independent studio co-founded by John Romero, reportedly shut down following Microsoft's layoffs, with over 100 staff affected. The decision was made at a high level within Microsoft, and the studio had no warning or remaining funds to continue operations, despite hitting all project milestones.