[STEAM][PRESS]Shock and Anger as Xbox Shuts Down Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and More

[Steam 0]

The video game industry has reacted with shock and anger after

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shut down several game studios today, May 7, 2024 including Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, the developers of Redfall and Hi-Fi Rush respectively.

Both developers and fans have shared their disappointment at the closures,

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. Head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booy told employees of the studios, which joined

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under Bethesda parent company ZeniMax, the cuts were a result of the "reprioritization of titles and resources."

"This is absolutely terrible," wrote Arkane Lyon director Dinga Bakaba on

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, whose studio survived the closures and

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. "To any executive reading this: friendly reminder that video games are an entertainment and cultural industry, and your business as a corporation is to take care of your artists and entertainers and help them create value for you."

This is absolutely terrible. Permission to be human : to any executive reading this, friendly reminder that video games are an entertainment/cultural industry, and your business as a corporation is to take care of your artists/entertainers and help them create value for you.

— Dinga Bakaba (@DBakaba)

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"Don't throw us into gold fever gambits, don't use us as strawmen for miscalculations or ****** spots, don't make our work environments Darwinist jungles. You say we make you proud when we make a good game. Make us proud when times are tough. We know you can, we've seen it before.

"For now, great teams are sunsetting before our eyes, again, and it's a f**king gut stab. Lyon is safe, but please be tactful and discerning about all this, and respect affected folks' voice and leave it room to be heard, it's their story to tell, their feelings to express."

Several other developers weighed in on the closures too, which also affect mobile game developer Alpha Dog Games. It's unclear how many staff have lost their jobs across the three studios, but

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, currently valued at more than $3 trillion, declined to expand further when contacted by IGN.

"Arkane Austin and Tango being shut down is the biggest let down from the

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acquisitions. "Arkane Austin and Tango being shut down is the biggest let down from the

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acquisitions," wrote Anthony Panecasio, level design team lead on

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at Ubisoft Toronto, on

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. "They were making exciting new IP, even if they were rough around the edges. I played both

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and

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to completion when they launched and still have fond memories of them."

Sebastien Mitton, co-creative director at Arkane Lyon, called the closures a "very, very bad wake up call" on

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. "A thought for our brothers and sisters in Texas, Canada, and Japan who are going through a very difficult time. Our hearts go out to all of you in this terrible ordeal."

Adam Boyes, co-CEO of

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and former PlayStation executive, didn't comment on the closures directly on

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but did share a screenshot of a

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article from April 25, 2024 which showed

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posted a 17% increase in revenue and $21.9 billion in profit in its latest financial earnings report.

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— ᴀᴅᴀᴍ ʙᴏʏᴇs (@amboyes)

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"To everyone whose been pestering me for years about why we didn't allow Moon Studios to get acquired by a big publisher, that's why," wrote Thomas Mahler, boss of the studio behind

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, on

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. "I've lived through the 90s and saw what happened when smaller studios got acquired by EA."

Myriad developers also shared job opportunities and offered advice to their industry peers affected by the closures. "I am absolutely shocked at the closing of Arkane Austin, Tango, and Alpha Dog," said Epic Games principal engine programmer Emanuel Masciarelli on

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. "If I worked with you and can help you get a job, either here at Epic or at another company that I have connections with, please, please, reach out. I can help with resume reviews, anything."

Fans of the affected studios have also taken to social media to express their shock and anger over these unexpected closures too. "My heart just broke," said BethA69 on a

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post discussing Arkane Austin's closure and

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.

Hi-Fi RUSH was a break out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations. We couldn’t be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered with this surprise release.

— Aaron Greenberg U (@aarongreenberg)

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"This is honestly pretty painful," added Shameer2405. "Redfall was one of my most anticipated games last year and even though it disappointed me, I thought it had a lot of potential to be better. It's a shame that's not going to happen anymore."

Those discussing Tango Gameworks and its 2023 hit Hi-Fi Rush shared similar sentiments, with many pointing to an

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post from

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executive Aaron Greenberg that declared the game "was a breakout hit for [Xbox] and [its] players in all key measurements and expectations." He said

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"couldn’t be happier with what the team at Tango Gameworks delivered" when

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and

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.

But just over a year later the studio was shut down. "So this is how it ends," wrote Tango Gameworks creative director and Hi-Fi rush director John Johanas on

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. "Unfortunately I don't quite have the words. But at least thank you to everyone who supported us."

"Tango being shut down after the success of Hi-Fi Rush is bonkers. "This whole acquisition thing was great for the industry, right?" asked PimentaGui on

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. "

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's spending spree continues to have long lasting terrible effects on the industry," said Baoben. "Tango being shut down after the success of Hi-Fi Rush is bonkers," added Einbroch.

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and with it came Bethesda studios such as Arkane, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games. Its acquisition streak reached new heights in 2023 with the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which

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.

Xbox also announced

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developer ZeniMax Online Studios would absorb Roundhouse Studios, but the other Bethesda teams would be unaffected.

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and

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developer Bethesda Game Studios,

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developer Machine Games,

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developer id Software, and the aforementioned Marvel's Blade developer Arkane Lyon are all unaffected.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

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