Hellblade developer Ninja Theory heading towards closure in new wave of Xbox cuts, as two separate agreements collapse

Ninja Theory, the developer behind the Hellblade series of games, is facing potential closure as a result of recent Xbox cuts and layoffs. This comes as part of a sweeping round of job reductions at Xbox, with studio employees and Xbox embarking on a consultation process to determine the studio's fate. According to a blog post by Xbox chief content officer Matt Booty, two separate agreements for Ninja Theory fell through, leaving the studio without an owner and unable to continue operations.

Ninja Theory had been developing Senua, a new entry in the Hellblade series, but the game was only announced in June during the Xbox Games Showcase. Microsoft had reportedly put the studio up for sale just a month after the reveal. The blog post concludes by emphasizing support for those affected and a commitment to treating one another with care and respect, with Microsoft planning to gather Xbox studios for a town hall meeting on October 6 to reflect on progress and look ahead to an impressive lineup of upcoming games.