Studio Closures and Layoffs
Xbox previously announced its intention to close Hellblade developer Ninja Theory after two deals to save the company did not materialize. Consequences of that decision are now visible as former studio staff post on LinkedIn.
Gameplay programmer Katrin Mair expressed gratitude for her four years at the studio, noting that Ninja Theory was never just a job.
Mair stated that it is incredibly sad knowing the team will not get to finish what they were working on, highlighting the care, talent, and effort invested in the unreleased project.
Mair relocated to the U.K. to work at Ninja Theory. Technical director Loong-Wei Ding is also among those affected, urging other studios to hire his former colleagues.
Impacted Developers and Audio Specialists
Technical sound designer Alessio Mellina faces redundancy after 12 years with the studio, having worked on the dynamic audio systems and binaural audio featured in Hellblade.
Performance capture expert Xoe Suvari, who was also let down by the layoffs, highlighted the extensive shoot days, data management, and the development of a top-tier performance capture stage.
Wider Industry Restructuring
The widespread posts indicate that layoffs span the entire studio. Microsoft previously announced Senua, the third game in the Hellblade series, during an Xbox Games Showcase event.
Microsoft also announced that the next mainline Halo game will be developed by Activision alongside mass layoffs at Halo Studios, while moving other internal developers under the Activision umbrella.
According to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty, these shifts represent a significant portion of planned restructures, indicating further organizational changes ahead.
