Recently, foreign media outlet InsiderGaming reported that Xbox plans to close the well-known studio Ninja Theory after two acquisition agreements for its sale both failed.
Microsoft has announced a new round of layoffs under its "Xbox Business Reset" plan, confirming in the announcement that Halo Studios and several other first-party studios will eliminate a total of 268 positions, along with revealing a studio restructuring plan. As Ninja Theory failed to find a new buyer, the studio is set to be closed.
Microsoft officially stated that the two separate acquisition deals for Ninja Theory ultimately fell through, and consultation processes with employees have now begun to advance plans for the studio's closure. However, they have not completely given up and are still exploring other possibilities to save the studio. Xbox is currently continuing negotiations with Arkane Studios, with related discussions expected to last until the end of 2026, leaving Arkane's fate still uncertain.
Ninja Theory is best known to players for Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, and had previously announced a new entry in the series, Senua. If the studio officially shuts down, the future of this new title will be filled with uncertainty. In this round of major Xbox restructuring, Compulsion Games and Double Fine have successfully been spun off to regain independence, and Undead Labs has finalized its ownership transfer, but only Ninja Theory's sale negotiations have failed.