The studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop is running out of time. Microsoft’s plan to close Arkane Lyon, the French studio making Marvel’s Blade, now has a hard date attached: November 13, when the formal consultation with staff representatives ends and the company has to make its call. Unless a buyer steps in, 217 jobs are on the line, according to a report from Le Monde today.
Le Monde: Arkane Lyon (Blade) has until November 13th to find a buyer (217 jobs at risk).
byu/-LastGrail- inGamingLeaksAndRumours
Two unions are fighting the plan. They call Microsoft’s decision “incoherent” and its attitude “disrespectful,” and say talks on the redundancy plan, which officially run until Friday, October 30, are going badly. “Microsoft is leaving us no choice,” a union representative named Simon told Le Monde.
A buyer is the studio’s best hope
There is still a way out. French law requires large companies to look for a buyer before closing a site, and according to Simon, “several forms of takeover are being considered.” The unions have asked for more time to give those talks “a better chance of reaching a conclusion.” In a statement to Le Monde, Microsoft said it is still exploring options and is actively looking for a partner to help finish Blade and bring it to market.
The unions aren’t convinced the closure is about money at all. Simon says the decision contradicts what staff were told about the studio’s finances for years, and that Microsoft wants to divest from Arkane “even though the studio is doing well.” The union has not ruled out challenging the economic case for the closure in court. Internal documents cited by Le Monde put the start of the shutdown at the end of 2026, running into early 2027.
What happens to Blade?
That is the big unknown. Marvel’s Blade was revealed at The Game Awards in 2023 and hasn’t been shown since. According to the union, the game is nearing the end of production, and Simon called a possible cancellation “a monumental waste, artistically, humanly and commercially.” Microsoft hasn’t canceled it, but it also hasn’t said who would finish it if Arkane Lyon closes.
How we got here
Arkane Lyon’s future has been uncertain since July, when Xbox announced 3,200 job cuts and the studio began a required consultation with its works council to review “strategic options.” Founder Raphaël Colantonio, who left in 2017, publicly replied to the news by asking Xbox “how much?” for the studio. In September, Xbox’s Matt Booty told staff the Arkane consultation was expected to continue through the end of the year. Arkane’s other studio, Arkane Austin, was already closed in 2024 after Redfall.
We’ll update this story when Microsoft makes its decision or a buyer is named.
