What you need to know
- Microsoft Gaming is shutting down three studios under ZeniMax Media.
- Microsoft is closing Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Games, and Tango Gameworks.
- Some members of Arkane Austin are being assigned to other studios.
A year of devastating cuts in the gaming industry is getting even worse.
Microsoft is shuttering multiple studios under ZeniMax Media, heavily affecting the Bethesda Softworks publishing wing of the Xbox first-party group. Arkane Austin (half of Arkane Studios based out of Austin, Texas in the U.S.) is being closed, as is Japanese developer Tango Gameworks and Canadian studio Alpha Dog Games.
You can read the full email from Microsoft Gaming president of Game Content and Studios Matt Booty below, which was passed to Windows Central by an anonymous source:
Today I’m sharing changes we are making to our Bethesda and ZeniMax teams. These changes are grounded in prioritizing high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds which you have nurtured over many decades.
To double down on these franchises and invest to build new ones requires us to look across the business to identify the opportunities that are best positioned for success. This reprioritization of titles and resources means a few teams will be realigned to others and that some of our colleagues will be leaving us.
Here are the changes going into effect:
Arkane Austin – This studio will close with some members of the team joining other studios to work on projects across Bethesda. Arkane Austin has a history of making impactful and innovative games and it is a pedigree that everyone should be proud of. Redfall’s previous update will be its last as we end all development on the game. The game and its servers will remain online for players to enjoy and we will provide make-good offers to players who purchased the Hero DLC.
Alpha Dog Studios – This studio will also close. We appreciate the team’s creativity in bringing Doom to new players. Mighty Doom will be sunset on August 7 and we will be turning off the ability for players to make any purchases in the game.
Tango Gameworks – Tango Gameworks will also close. We are thankful for their contributions to Bethesda and players around the world. Hi-Fi Rush will continue to be available to players on the platforms it is today.
