Microsoft is undergoing a major shakeup that involves mass layoffs, studio sell-offs, and other significant changes as part of a “reset” of the business.
While we have learned that Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are being sold off and Double Fine and Compulsion are going independent, we don’t yet know what the future holds for Arkane Lyon and its long-in-development Blade game. The French studio is undergoing “consultation,” but its fate has yet to be determined.
There is a lot we still don’t know, but for now, here’s everything you need to know about Arkane Lyon and Marvel’s Blade leading up to the news today.
Entering consultation
Arkane Lyon is based in France, and due to local labor laws, the studio is entering “required consultation” with its local Works Council. This process will include a “review of potential strategic options.”
But there is a lot we don’t know.
Could Arkane Lyon be sold off like Ninja Theory and Undead Labs? Go independent like Double Fine and Compulsion? Shut down like its sister studio Arkane Austin before it? Also unknown is what will happen with the Blade game itself. Microsoft said in its announcement that no publicly announced first-party games are being canceled in the “reset” process, but if Arkane Lyon is sold, it’s anyone’s guess as to what may happen to the project. Disney, which owns Marvel, would presumably be involved in these negotiations as well.
Arkane founder jokes about buying the studio
Arkane co-founder Raphael Colantonio, who no longer works there, responded to Sharma’s post to ask about how much Arkane might cost to buy.
“Regarding Arkane… how much? I’m asking for a friend,” he said, with a laughing emoji.
Delayed and over-budget, apparently
A report from The Verge said Marvel’s Blade was over-budget and had been delayed internally. The game was said to be eyeing a 2026 release but was delayed internally to late 2027. That’s all the info the report had to share, but it came after Blade was a no-show at the Xbox Games Showcase in June.
Announced in 2023 and not much to show
Blade was announced in December 2023 at The Game Awards that year, but the reveal trailer was CG and many believed it was more of a mood piece meant to hype fans up and help developer Arkane Lyon recruit staff to work on it.
Game director Dinga Bakaba mentioned on stage that it’s a third-person action-adventure game that takes place in Paris. No gameplay footage has been released.
Prior to developing Deathloop, Arkane Lyon worked on both Dishonored and Dishonored 2. The studio certainly has a knack for world-building and level design, and it will be interesting to see how that is applied to a well-established universe.
A Blade film starring Mahershala Ali has been in the works for a long, long time, suffering multiple setbacks throughout its troubled development.