Months after Microsoft announced that Arkane, maker of Dishonored and Deathloop, would be among the studios it is divesting as part of Xbox’s current “reset,” the tech giant still hasn’t been able to settle on a buyer. Ubisoft is among the companies currently interested in buying the studio and potentially helping it complete work on Marvel’s Blade.
According to a new report by Bloomberg, the Assassin’s Creed publisher is among those currently in talks for a potential deal, having already submitted a bid. Microsoft is also reportedly exploring a sale of the studio back to its management. If no deal can be reached, a total studio closure is on the table. The terms of the proposals are unknown, but Microsoft is apparently not yet satisfied with them.
A spokesperson for Microsoft told Bloomberg it continues to explore options ahead of a December deadline for a decision.
Ubisoft and Arkane are both based in France, and it wouldn’t be the first time the publisher has worked on a Disney-owned license. It released Star Wars Outlaws in 2024, a game that seemingly failed to meet sales expectations despite being generally quite good.
The French publisher is facing its own headwinds, however. Ubisoft has seen ongoing layoffs and restructurings as it deals with revenue shortfalls and debt payments following big production delays. Despite employing over 15,000 people, it has no major blockbuster releases coming out this fall.
Last month, Microsoft revealed it had extended Arkane’s deadline for finding a potential buyer.
