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Microsoft and Xbox may soon close several game studios, including ...
Microsoft and Xbox may soon close several game studios, including ...
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Ninja Theory, the developer behind the Hellblade games, is reportedly one of several studios "at risk of being shuttered" by Microsoft and Xbox.
(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
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Hours after it was reported that
Xbox's South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games may soon be closed by Microsoft
, a new report has come to light that suggests several other Xbox Game Studios developers may be on the chopping block as well.
According to
Bloomberg
and its sources familiar with Microsoft's plans, both Double Fine Productions and Ninja Theory are, like Compulsion Games, "at risk of being shuttered," and are in "active negotiations to spin off" from Xbox. Reportedly, "several other studios" are in this situation as well.
Double Fine is best known for Psychonauts, Keeper, and its new pottery-based party brawler Kiln, while Ninja Theory is responsible for the dark fantasy action-adventure series
Hellbl…
Double Fine, Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory: The three studios that ...
Double Fine, Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory: The three studios that ...
A new report claims that several internal teams would be negotiating alternatives to Microsoft's restructuring.
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The evening is being particularly eventful for Xbox, and a new report from
Bloomberg
adds more uncertainty about the future of some of its studios. According to the information published by the US media outlet,
several internal Microsoft teams would be exposed to possible closures within the reorganization process being prepared by the company.
The situation would be so delicate that some studio executives would already be exploring formulas to continue their activity outside of the Xbox structure.
Double Fine, Compulsion, and Ninja Theory would be among the affected studios
According to Bloomberg’s information,
Double Fine
,
Compulsion Games
, and
Ninja Theory
would be among the teams whose future is being evaluated by Microsof…
Xbox is closing down Hellblade creator Ninja Theory
Xbox is closing down Hellblade creator Ninja Theory
Gaming
News
Xbox
Xbox is closing down Hellblade creator Ninja Theory
Compulsion Games and Double Fine are also in ‘active negotiations’ about spinning off.
Compulsion Games and Double Fine are also in ‘active negotiations’ about spinning off.
by
Jay Peters
and
Tom Warren
Jun 15, 2026, 9:13 PM UTC
Link
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Image: Ninja Theory
Xbox is closing down Ninja Theory, the studio behind the
Hellblade
series, a source tells
The Verge
. Staffers were told on a call on Monday about the closure, but they are hoping the studio will find a buyer. The closure comes as “several” Xbox studios at Microsoft, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine, are in “active negotiations” about spinning off,
Bloomberg
reports
.
The closure and negotiations follow Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty warning last week of
a “reset” at Xbox
, laying out several challenges facing Xbox’s business — including that it had “over extended” with its studio system and the hardware component crisis is significantly driving up prices.
Kotaku
reported earlier on Monday that
Microsoft was planning to shut down Compulsion, though it noted in an up…
Xbox is closing down Hellblade creator Ninja Theory
Xbox is closing down Hellblade creator Ninja Theory
Xbox is closing down Ninja Theory, the studio behind the Hellblade series, a source tells The Verge. Staffers were told on a call on Monday about the closure, but they are hoping the studio will find a buyer. The closure comes as "several" Xbox studios at Microsoft, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine, are in […]
BREAKING: Several Xbox studios, including Compulsion, Ninja Theory and Double Fine, are negotiating with Xbox as they try to avoid closure. Some or all could spin off.
Lots still in flux as many stud...
BREAKING: Several Xbox studios, including Compulsion, Ninja Theory and Double Fine, are negotiating with Xbox as they try to avoid closure. Some or all could spin off.
Lots still in flux as many studios remain unsure about what's happening.
Here's the latest: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Xbox Is Reportedly About To Shut Down South Of Midnight Studio ...
Xbox Is Reportedly About To Shut Down South Of Midnight Studio ...
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5 days ago
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5 days ago
Xbox Is Reportedly About To Shut Down South Of Midnight Studio Compulsion Games Alongside Other Studios
I hate it here.
Brodie Gibbons
6 hours ago
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UPDATE:
It is now being reported by
Bloomberg
that Double Fine as well as Ninja Theory are also in active discussions to be closed down unless they can find a buyer.
Original Story:
After word of Xbox’s looming “reset” emerged last week
in the form of a letter published by Xbox’s Asha Sharma and Matt Booty,
Kotaku is reporting
that the first studio on the chopping block might be Compulsion Games, the studio behind titles including Contrast, We Happy Few, and South of Midnight.
Nothing has been formally confirmed by Xbox; however, Kotaku’s report has been updated to indicate that negotiations are ongoing between the two, leading to speculation that Compulsion Games could be attempting to buy back its independence,
just as Toys fo…
Several Xbox Studios at Risk of Closure, in Talks to Become Independent
Several Xbox Studios at Risk of Closure, in Talks to Become Independent
Update #2 [
Mon 15th Jun 2026, 9:30pm
]:
In another update, this time from
Bloomberg
journalist Jason Schreier, it's stated several Xbox first-party developers are at risk of closure and are currently in talks about being spun out to become independent.
Among the teams, three of the developers specifically named are Compulsion Games (
We Happy Few
,
South of Midnight
), Double Fine (
Psychonauts
), and Ninja Theory (
Hellblade
).
Sources speaking to Bloomberg claim the studios are "in active negotiations to spin off as they try to thwart closure".
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Update #1 [
Mon 15th Jun 2026, 6:30pm
]:
This is a fast developing story, and
Kotaku
has just added the following update to its article:
“According to one source at the studio, Compulsion leadership is in ‘negotiations’ with Microsoft over the studio’s fate, but the details of these negotiations have not been disclosed.”
These negotiations could potentially culminate in the studio regaining its independence, although we’ll need to wait for further updates to know for sure.
Original Story:
This weekend has been awash with rumou…
Xbox is reportedly closing Ninja Theory, Double Fine and Compulsion ...
Xbox is reportedly closing Ninja Theory, Double Fine and Compulsion ...
Gaming
Xbox
Xbox is reportedly closing Ninja Theory, Double Fine and Compulsion Games
Studio leaders are trying to buy themselves back before being shut down for good.
By
Jessica Conditt
June 15, 2026 7:18 pm EST
Engadget
Xbox is preparing to shut down or sell at least three of its studios — Double Fine, Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games — according to reports from
The Verge
and
Bloomberg
on Monday.
Ninja Theory employees were informed on Monday that the studio would be closing, according to
The Verge
, but the team is attempting to find a buyer that can keep them operational. Ninja Theory is the studio behind the Hellblade series and it was featured in the recent Xbox Summer Game Fest showcase, revealing
a new entry
due in 2027.
Double Fine is the legendary studio behind the Psychonauts games,
Brütal Legend
,
Broken Age
,
Keeper
and all manner of LucasArts adventures, founded by Tim Schafer and friends in 2000. Double Fine leaders are in active negotiations to buy themselves back from Xbox rather than be closed altogether, Bloomberg said.
Compulsion Games is in a similar position, according to the report. Com…
Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie
Former Xbox studios Double Fine and Compulsion will keep games after going indie
Microsoft is spinning off four of its Xbox game studios - Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs - as part of the restructuring announced today. However, two that are going independent, Double Fine and Compulsion, will get to keep their franchises and games catalog, according to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. "Compulsion […]
Corroboration
No verdict, no pronouncement. The model extracts atomic factual claims with verbatim quotes; every quote is validated against the source text and corroboration is computed by counting how many editorially-opposed blocs assert each fact. 1 fabricated/unverifiable quotes were rejected by the cite-or-die gate.
The spine · 1 fact corroborated across ≥2 opposed blocs
1×broadly confirmedSeveral Xbox studios, including Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine, are in active negotiations to spin off from Xbox.
other
bluesky“Several Xbox studios, including Compulsion, Ninja Theory and Double Fine, are negotiating with Xbox as they try to avoid closure. Some or all could spin off.”
windowscentral.com“both Double Fine Productions and Ninja Theory are, like Compulsion Games, "at risk of being shuttered," and are in "active negotiations to spin off" from Xbox.”
Contested · 1 — sources conflict; shown, not resolved
⚔ The claim that Ninja Theory is being closed (775a9cd5) is presented as a definitive action, while the claim that Ninja Theory is "at risk of being shuttered" (24587e72) is presented as a possibility. The former asserts closure has been decided; the latter implies it is not yet final. These cannot both be true as stated.
A tech Xbox is closing down Ninja Theory.
B other Microsoft and Xbox may close several game studios, including Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, and Double Fine.
Single-source · 4 — reported by one bloc only (uncorroborated)
Xbox is closing down Ninja Theory.
theverge
Staff at Ninja Theory were told on a call on Monday about the closure.
theverge
Microsoft and Xbox may close several game studios, including Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, and Double Fine.
windowscentral.com
Several other Xbox studios are in the same situation as Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine.
windowscentral.com
Framing · 5 — loaded language surfaced (spin shown, not adopted)
theverge
“Xbox is closing down Ninja Theory”
→ Xbox is closing down Ninja Theory
theverge
“Staffers were told on a call on Monday about the closure, but they are hoping the studio will find a buyer.”
→ Staff were informed of closure and are seeking a buyer.
windowscentral.com
“at risk of being shuttered”
→ at risk of being closed
bluesky
“are negotiating with Xbox as they try to avoid closure”
→ are negotiating to avoid closure
windowscentral.com
“on the chopping block”
→ at risk of being closed
Entities
Microsoftorg
Xboxorg
Double Fineorg
Ninja Theoryperson
Ninja Theoryorg
Compulsionorg
Midnight Studioplace
Compulsion Gamesorg
Several Xbox Studiosorg