Xbox has officially shut down Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios. The companies mentioned above were known for Hi-Fi Rush, The Evil Within, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Prey, Redfall, and more.
Over the last few months, several major companies have laid off hundreds, if not thousands, of workers from across their entire gaming division. Examples include Microsoft, Bungie, Embracer Group, Behaviour Interactive, Riot Games, Sega, Sony, EA, Take-Two, and more. Unfortunately, the amount of layoffs across the industry will likely increase as the year continues.
Xbox Shuts Down Major Developers Despite Recent Successes
According to a recent email that Microsoft executives sent out, the company has decided to shut down Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios. This is in spite of recent successes of such games as Hi-Fi Rush, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and more. Arkane Austin was responsible for cult classic games such as Prey, as well as a more divisive title in the form of Redfall.
Redfall has officially ended active development. However, servers for the game will remain online. Additionally, Alpha Dog Games’ mobile title, Mighty Doom, will end service on August 7. Roundhouse Studios, known for The Elder Scrolls Online, will formally join ZeniMax Online Studios. Tango Gameworks will shut down and Hi-Fi Rush will remain “on the platforms it is on today,” hinting at the potential cancellation of the rumored Nintendo Switch port.
The announcement comes as a devastating new development in the recent layoffs that have plagued the industry over the past few months. The shut down of Tango Gameworks especially comes as a huge shock. Hi-Fi Rush, according to Microsoft VP of Games Marketing at Xbox, “was a break out hit for us and our players in all key measurements and expectations.” Additionally, the game recently received a highly successful port on the PlayStation 5, and has won several awards over the past few months.
As we approach the Summer Game Fest 2024 season, only time will tell how the fallout of this news will affect not just Microsoft’s numerous gaming divisions, but the entire gaming industry at large.
