What happened to Xbox and why Bethesda studios closed

The morning of May 7 was important not only for Apple announcements, but also for high-profile layoffs at Xbox. Microsoft confirms closure of several Bethesda studios, including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks. Developers of games such as DISHONORED, Production And HiFi Rush They were left without work.

Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, announced the layoffs in an internal email. The manager noted that the closure of studies is due to strategy for “prioritizing high-impact games” and continue to invest in Bethesda’s portfolio of successful games.

“Strengthening these franchises and investing in creating new ones requires us to look at the entire business to identify the opportunities that are best positioned for success,” Booty said. “This new prioritization of titles and resources means that some teams will merge with others and that some of our colleagues will leave us.”

The reorganization will directly affect four Bethesda and Zenimax studios: Arcane Austin, Alpha Dog Studios, Tango Gameworks and Roundhouse Games. The first three will close their doors, and Roundhouse will join ZeniMax Online Studios to work on The Elder Scrolls Online. Xbox has confirmed that some employees will be joining other Bethesda studios.

Which Bethesda studios will close today?

The Xbox strategy involves three studios: Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks and Alpha Dog.

Arcane Austinfounded in 2006 by Rafael Colantonio (Arx Fatalis) and Harvey Smith (God from), was responsible for games such as DISHONORED or Production. Although the studio has won awards for its immersive simulators, the disaster red waterfall This affected them significantly. With the closure of their offices red waterfall you will no longer receive updates and Xbox announced that they will compensate players who purchased the Hero DLC. The closure of Arkane Austin will not affect the Lyon offices, although its director Dinga Bakaba criticized Microsoft executives.

Tango Gameworksfounded in 2010 by the creator resident EvilShinji Mikami, a Tokyo studio that produced games such as Evil inside And Evil Within 2. Before the purchase, Bethesda Tango entered into an exclusive development agreement with PlayStation Ghostwire: Tokyo. Years later, he released an award-winning album. HiFi Rush on Game Pass and PlayStation 5, although it lost Shinji Mikami and its creative director Ikumi Nakamura. After the closure of Tango Gameworks, Xbox was left without a presence in Japan.

Alpha games with dogs, also known as ZeniMax Halifax, was founded in 2012 with the aim of developing mobile games. His catalog contains titles such as Wraithbone, MonsterCity: Rampage or Ninja GolfAlthough you will most likely recognize them by Mighty DUM. Although this game is based on id Software’s successful franchise, it was not well received due to its lack of originality and excessive micropayments.

Xbox becomes EA

The closure of three Bethesda studios adds to the layoffs of nearly 2,000 Activision Blizzard employees earlier this year. The head of Xbox Game Studios said that “these changes are not a reflection of the creativity and skill of the talented people on these teams, or the risks they took to try something new.”

Booty added that Xbox has made the “difficult decision” to invest in its priority games. A discourse that is increasingly common in the industry is contradicts what Phil Spencer saidwho said in an interview a year ago that he wanted to provide his teams with “a creative platform to develop their skills and aspirations.”

Xbox is on track to become the largest game publisher. What happened today suggests that the gaming division Microsoft is adopting bad practices from Activision and EAwho bought studios only to disappear or turned them into support teams for successful franchises.

Some predict that layoffs and closures of educational institutions will be extended for 18 months. Companies will continue to rely on Call of Duty, FIFA and other famous sagas, a strategy that will ultimately undermine creativity in the video game industry.