--- title: "Microsoft Is Fielding Multiple Bids for Arkane Studios as a December Deadline Looms" description: "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." url: https://gaming.skoop.news/microsoft-is-reportedly-fielding-bids-for-arkane-studios-wit-5fd118/ published: 2026-11-04T07:31:51.542445-05:00 modified: 2026-11-04T07:31:51.542453-05:00 section: "Gaming & Streamers" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["Arkane", "Star Wars Outlaws", "Arkane Studios", "Microsoft", "Marvel", "Ubisoft", "Xbox", "gaming"] hashtags: ["#StarWarsOutlaws", "#ArkaneStudios", "#Microsoft", "#Gaming", "#gamingclips"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Gamescom_2009_-_Ubisoft_%285070%29.jpg/1280px-Gamescom_2009_-_Ubisoft_%285070%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # 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. Published 2026-11-04 · Updated 2026-11-04 · Gaming & Streamers, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - 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]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) - Potential buyers include Ubisoft and at least two other unnamed gaming companies. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) - Microsoft announced that Arkane would be among the studios it is divesting as part of Xbox's current reset. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) ## 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]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) If you follow Arkane's games, the outcome decides who owns the team behind them. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) According to Bloomberg, Microsoft is currently fielding those bids. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) An Xbox representative confirmed the company is actively exploring strategic options ahead of the December deadline. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) A Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg the company continues to explore options ahead of a December deadline for a decision. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) ## Who is bidding Potential buyers include Ubisoft and at least two other unnamed gaming companies. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) Ubisoft is among the companies currently in talks to buy Arkane and has already submitted a bid, according to Bloomberg. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) 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]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) The terms of the proposals are unknown. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) If no deal can be reached, a total studio closure is on the table. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) ## How we got here Microsoft announced that Arkane would be among the studios it is divesting as part of Xbox's current reset. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) Months later, it still has not settled on a buyer. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) Last month, Microsoft revealed it had extended Arkane's deadline for finding a potential buyer. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) Arkane was heavily rumored to be on the chopping block during the Xbox layoffs announced in July. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) Those layoffs reportedly could have included cancellation of the Marvel project at Arkane. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) ## What Arkane is working on Arkane is the developer behind Dishonored and Deathloop, which are critically praised titles. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) The studio is currently developing a video game adaptation of Marvel's Blade, a vampire-hunting action title. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) Marvel's Blade was first revealed in a cinematic trailer in 2023. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) Earlier this year, the adaptation was thrown into limbo after a wave of closures and cancellations across the Xbox ecosystem. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) A sale would provide Arkane a lifeline from Microsoft and determine whether the Marvel project continues or faces cancellation. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) ## The Ubisoft angle Ubisoft and Arkane are both based in France, and Ubisoft has previously worked on a Disney-owned license. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) It released Star Wars Outlaws in 2024, a game that seemingly failed to meet sales expectations despite being generally quite good. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) Ubisoft has seen ongoing layoffs and restructurings as it deals with revenue shortfalls and debt payments following big production delays. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) It has announced corporate layoffs five times this year, cutting staff twice in January and further in March, June and October. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) Ubisoft employs over 15,000 people and has no major blockbuster releases coming out this fall. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) ## 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]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) The project was already thrown into limbo earlier this year. [[1]](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) Watch for a decision in December, since that is the deadline Microsoft has given for one. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) Microsoft has extended the deadline once already, and the terms of the proposals are unknown. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) If no deal is reached, a total studio closure is on the table. [[2]](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) ## Sources 1. [Microsoft Is Reportedly Fielding Bids for Arkane Studios, With Ubisoft Among the Potential Buyers](https://hypebeast.com/2026/11/microsoft-fields-bids-for-arkane-studios-ahead-of-deadline) — Hypebeast 2. [Ubisoft Among Those Bidding On Marvel’s Blade Studio Arkane](https://kotaku.com/ubisoft-among-those-bidding-on-marvels-blade-studio-arkane-2000752854) — Kotaku Image: Photo: Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gamescom_2009_-_Ubisoft_(5070).jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/