Xbox has today announced stunning cuts and studio closures affecting a slew of development houses under the Bethesda banner.
Redfall developer Arkane Austin will close, and its online co-op vampire game will not be updated further.
Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks will close. Mighty Doom studio Alpha Dog Studios will close, and the game switched off on 7th August.
“Today it was announced that Tango Gameworks will close,” a notice posted to the studio’s X account confirmed. “Thank you to everyone that explored the worlds we created. Hi-Fi Rush along with Tango’s previous titles will remain available and playable everywhere they are today.”
A similar notice posted to Arkane Studios’ X account confirmed Arkane Austin’s closure, and the end of all development on Redfall.
“To everyone that has supported the work from our Austin studio over the years, thank you. Thank you for spending time in our worlds and making them your own.”
There’s an additional issue here in that Redfall owners who purchased the Hero Pass or premium Bite Back upgrade are still awaiting content they paid for as part of this. These players will “be eligible to receive the value of the upgrade”, the studio wrote, with a website link now available through which to apply.
The news was broken by an email from head of Xbox game studios Matt Booty sent to staff this morning, as first reported by IGN.
“These changes are grounded in prioritising high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds which you have nurtured over many decades,” Booty reportedly wrote.
More to follow.
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