In September 2020, Microsoft revealed that it has acquired Zenimax Media for $7.5 billion, a transaction that is expected to be completed in 2021. Now, three years after this historic event, Microsoft has confirmed the closure of four studios, including Tango Gameworks, Which will lay off more than one worker.
This was confirmed in an email shared by Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Studios and Roundhouse Games will close their doors forever. As for Roundhouse Games, the team is absorbed by ZeniMax Online Studios, its developers The Elder Scrolls Online.
Arcane was Austin’s last work RedfallOne of the studio’s most ambitious projects, it turned out to be 2023’s biggest flop. About this title, Microsoft has confirmed that development of updates and extensions has ended, And players who purchased this installment’s Hero DLC can request a refund. Although the online servers will remain active, at least for now, there are no plans to support this title.
For its part, Tango Gameworks was Microsoft’s only Japanese studio. Unlike Arcane Austin, the title developers prefer Hi-Fi Rush, Ghostwire: Tokyo y evil within enjoyed critical success, though Sales of its latest games haven’t been as high as Microsoft would have liked. This is undoubtedly the biggest loss on this occasion.
at your email, Buti indicated that the resources allocated to these four groups will be redirected to other types of projects. Here’s what he said about it:
“Today I’m sharing with you the changes we’re making to our Bethesda and Zenimax teams. These changes are based on prioritizing high-impact titles and continuing to invest in Bethesda’s portfolio of successful games and beloved worlds you’ve nurtured for decades.
We need to analyze the entire business to identify opportunities best positioned for success in duplicating these franchises and investing in building new ones. This new prioritization of titles and resources means that some teams will reunite with others and some of our colleagues will leave us.
With this consolidation of our Bethesda teams, so that we can invest deeply in our portfolio of games and new IP, a small number of roles in select Bethesda editorial and corporate teams will also be eliminated.
Those whose roles will be affected will be notified today and we ask that you treat your departing colleagues with respect and compassion. We will provide our full support during their transition including severance payments affected by today’s notice and as per local law.
These changes are not a reflection of the creativity and skill of the talented people in these teams or the risks they took to try new things. I recognize that these changes are also disruptive to the various ZeniMax and Bethesda support teams that bring our games to market. We are making these difficult decisions to increase investment in other parts of our portfolio and build our ability to focus on our priority plays.
Bethesda remains one of the mainstays of Xbox with a strong portfolio of incredible games and a thriving community. If we look to the future, there is an impressive list of games on the horizon. In 2024 alone we have Starfield Shattered Space, Fallout 76 Skyline Valley, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, and Golden Road from The Elder Scrolls Online. Arcane Lyon, Bethesda Game Studios, ID Software, MachineGames, Zenimax Online Studios, and Bethesda’s corporate and editorial teams will do well as we align our plans and resources to better prepare ourselves for success in this complex and changing industry. “We are positioned to develop new intellectual property, explore new game concepts and expand our existing franchises.”
For its part, Studios such as id Software, Bethesda Game Studios, Arcane Lyon and Machinegames did not suffer any changes., at least for the moment. Additionally, it’s unknown what will happen to features like Prey and The Evil Within, but it’s highly likely that we won’t be seeing these series for a long time.
with this, It is unknown how many people will lose their jobs., but considering that Booty confirmed that everyone affected will receive the email today, it’s only a matter of time before we see the real impact of this decision. In related matters, a new clue has emerged about the Xbox laptop. Similarly, they filter the release dates for the following Xbox games.
Author’s Note:
This is terrible news. The closure of four studios is not something to be taken lightly. Hundreds, if not thousands, of employees would lose their jobs and multiple series were canned, possibly forever. The incident with Tango Gameworks is very unfortunate, and perhaps some of the Activision Blizzard team will be next. This is another example of how Microsoft is showing this generation a lot of money spent and little income.
Through: IGN
