Ubisoft has put in a bid for Arkane Studios, the Lyon developer behind Dishonored and Deathloop, and it isn’t the only suitor. Bloomberg reports, citing people who weren’t authorised to speak publicly, that Ubisoft Entertainment SA made an offer, as did at least two other gaming companies. Xbox has also weighed selling the studio to its management. The original Bloomberg report sits behind a paywall, so we’ve followed it through relays and Xbox’s own statements.
No deal yet, and a deadline looming
Nothing is settled. As relayed by TradingView, the terms of the offers weren’t known, and Xbox hasn’t agreed to a deal with any potential acquirer. An Xbox spokesperson said the company is exploring options ahead of a December deadline and declined further comment. Ubisoft’s spokesperson didn’t immediately have a comment. The other bidders haven’t been named.
The timeline has a wrinkle. In October, French newspaper Le Monde reported, as summarised by GamingBolt, that Xbox gave Arkane Lyon until 13 November to find a new buyer. That report put around 217 jobs at stake if no buyer emerged. A union representative quoted in it said the studio is in good financial health and that Marvel’s Blade is near the end of production. Xbox hasn’t commented on the 13 November date, and its own reference is to December.
How Arkane ended up on the block
The sale follows Xbox’s July restructuring. In a memo published on Xbox Wire, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced about 1,600 immediate role eliminations, with roughly 3,200 planned across FY27. She said Compulsion Games and Double Fine would become independent, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs had entered terms to join new ownership. Arkane was handled differently: in France, its management began the required consultation with its Works Council to review potential strategic options.
That process is why this reads as a sale rather than a shutdown. Our earlier report, based on The Verge, said Microsoft planned to close Arkane unless a buyer appeared and wanted to cancel Blade. Sharma’s memo said none of Xbox’s publicly announced first-party games or projects were being cancelled as part of the reductions, and Bloomberg’s sources now point to a sale that keeps the game alive.
What it means for Marvel’s Blade
Any deal would likely let Arkane finish Marvel’s Blade, which was announced in 2023 and is expected to release within the next one to two years. A buyer would take over the studio as a whole, including the team working on the game, so the new owner would inherit the Marvel licence work along with the staff. Bloomberg’s reporting doesn’t say who would publish it.
For Xbox, the studio has been part of the family for a while. Arkane sits under Bethesda Softworks, which Xbox acquired in 2021, and its sister studio Arkane Austin closed in 2024 after Redfall flopped. Ubisoft’s interest comes while the French publisher is shrinking elsewhere, having cancelled the Prince of Persia remake and closed studios in an earlier restructure.
Is Arkane Studios closing?
Not at the moment. Xbox is exploring a sale and has been weighing offers, with a management buyout also on the table. Le Monde reported that around 217 jobs would be at risk if no buyer emerges, but Xbox hasn’t confirmed that.
Will Marvel’s Blade still be released?
Bloomberg’s sources say a sale would likely let Arkane finish the game, which they expect within one to two years. Xbox hasn’t announced a release date or said who would publish it.
When will we know who buys Arkane?
Xbox’s spokesperson refers to a December deadline, while Le Monde reported a 13 November date. Neither Xbox nor Ubisoft has confirmed a deal, so we’ll update when one is announced.
