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Microsoft Is Fielding Multiple Bids for Arkane Studios as a December Deadline Looms
Ubisoft has already bid for the Dishonored and Deathloop studio, and the fate of its Marvel's Blade game depends on who wins, or whether anyone does.
Bids are in and the clock is running
Microsoft is fielding multiple acquisition bids for Arkane Studios ahead of a looming December deadline, and the studio's Marvel's Blade game hangs on the result. [1] If you follow Arkane's games, the outcome decides who owns the team behind them. [1]
According to Bloomberg, Microsoft is currently fielding those bids. [1] An Xbox representative confirmed the company is actively exploring strategic options ahead of the December deadline. [1] A Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg the company continues to explore options ahead of a December deadline for a decision. [2]
Who is bidding
Potential buyers include Ubisoft and at least two other unnamed gaming companies. [1] Ubisoft is among the companies currently in talks to buy Arkane and has already submitted a bid, according to Bloomberg. [2]
Microsoft has other routes too. Its Xbox division has considered selling Arkane directly to its own management team, and Microsoft is reportedly exploring a sale of the studio back to its management. [1][2] The terms of the proposals are unknown. [2]
If no deal can be reached, a total studio closure is on the table. [2]
How we got here
Microsoft announced that Arkane would be among the studios it is divesting as part of Xbox's current reset. [2] Months later, it still has not settled on a buyer. [2] Last month, Microsoft revealed it had extended Arkane's deadline for finding a potential buyer. [2]
Arkane was heavily rumored to be on the chopping block during the Xbox layoffs announced in July. [1] Those layoffs reportedly could have included cancellation of the Marvel project at Arkane. [1]
What Arkane is working on
Arkane is the developer behind Dishonored and Deathloop, which are critically praised titles. [1] The studio is currently developing a video game adaptation of Marvel's Blade, a vampire-hunting action title. [1]
Marvel's Blade was first revealed in a cinematic trailer in 2023. [1] Earlier this year, the adaptation was thrown into limbo after a wave of closures and cancellations across the Xbox ecosystem. [1] A sale would provide Arkane a lifeline from Microsoft and determine whether the Marvel project continues or faces cancellation. [1]
The Ubisoft angle
Ubisoft and Arkane are both based in France, and Ubisoft has previously worked on a Disney-owned license. [2] It released Star Wars Outlaws in 2024, a game that seemingly failed to meet sales expectations despite being generally quite good. [2]
Ubisoft has seen ongoing layoffs and restructurings as it deals with revenue shortfalls and debt payments following big production delays. [2] It has announced corporate layoffs five times this year, cutting staff twice in January and further in March, June and October. [1] Ubisoft employs over 15,000 people and has no major blockbuster releases coming out this fall. [2]
What this means for you
If you are waiting on Marvel's Blade, a sale would determine whether the project continues or faces cancellation. [1] The project was already thrown into limbo earlier this year. [1]
Watch for a decision in December, since that is the deadline Microsoft has given for one. [2] Microsoft has extended the deadline once already, and the terms of the proposals are unknown. [2] If no deal is reached, a total studio closure is on the table. [2]
Sources
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