A new Hellblade game, simply called Senua, was revealed at the big Xbox gaming showcase over the summer. Just three months later, the studio behind it, Ninja Theory, is at risk of closing after multiple attempts to sell off the team failed.
“Unfortunately, two separate agreements for Ninja Theory fell through,” Microsoft chief content officer Matt Booty wrote in a blog post on September 22. “We will now begin consultation with employees on a proposed closure while continuing to explore other paths forward.”
Ninja Theory was one of four smaller, limited-integration Xbox Game Studios teams that Microsoft has spun out this year as part of a massive, layoff-fueled restructuring of its gaming business. While Double Fine, Compulsion Games, and now Undead Labs have all been sold back to management, Ninja Theory’s status remains in limbo. Arkane, which was hard at work on a Marvel Blade game, is also currently facing a potential closure. “Consultation with Arkane remains underway and is expected to continue through the end of the year,” Booty confirmed in today’s announcement.
Ninja Theory was founded back in 2000, and its 26-year history has included classics like Heavenly Sword and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, as well as the DmC: Devil May Cry spin-off for Capcom’s action series. In 2017, the studio shipped its first Hellblade game, a cinematic adventure that combined Norse mythology, Celtic culture, and psychological horror.
Many wondered why Xbox would hype up a new game in that franchise during its summer showcase, only to threaten the closure of the studio weeks later. A source at Microsoft told Game File that the goal was to help promote the brand ahead of finding Ninja Theory a potential buyer.