Xbox Shuts Down Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and More Bethesda Softworks Studios

Microsoft’s Xbox division has made the surprising decision to shut down several Bethesda Softworks studios. Among the affected studios are Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, both of which have contributed to some memorable games over the years.

Arkane Austin: A Tale of Hits and Misses

Arkane Austin, closely associated with its French counterpart Arkane Lyon, was responsible for titles like Dishonored 2 and Prey. While Prey received critical acclaim, it didn’t achieve significant commercial success. The studio faced challenges with the release of Redfall, and despite promises to improve the game, some players were left disappointed. Now, it appears that the additional heroes promised as part of the Redfall Hero Pass may never materialize.

Tango Gameworks: A Japanese Studio’s Demise

Tango Gameworks, founded by industry legend Shinji Mikami in 2010, developed acclaimed games such as The Evil Within series and Ghostwire: Tokyo. Their most recent title, Hi-Fi Rush, surprised hardcore gamers. Despite not topping sales charts, Tango Gameworks held a unique position as the only Japanese studio owned by Microsoft. Unfortunately, it is now part of the closures.

Alpha Dog Games and Roundhouse Studios

Alpha Dog Games (also known as ZeniMax Halifax) was a mobile developer behind The Mighty Doom. Meanwhile, Roundhouse Studios emerged from the ashes of Human Head Studios in late 2019. Roundhouse had been providing support and will now join ZeniMax Online to work on The Elder Scrolls Online. While this consolidation isn’t ideal, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty believes it will allow Microsoft to invest more deeply in their game portfolio and new IP.

Microsoft acquired Bethesda for approximately $7.5 billion a few years ago, and these recent closures come after significant layoffs within the gaming division. As the industry evolves, Microsoft continues to optimize its gaming business while seeking new customers.