Arkane Lyon Has Until 13 November to Find a Buyer or Close

Microsoft could shut down Arkane Lyon, the French studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop, if no buyer turns up by 13 November. Push Square reported the deadline, drawing on a Le Monde (lemonde.fr) investigation that puts 217 jobs at risk.

That date is 20 days away. Negotiations are still going, according to the Le Monde report.

Why French Law Is Buying Arkane Time

Microsoft could not close the studio outright. France's Florange Law requires companies with more than 1,000 employees to spend three months looking for a buyer before closures that would cause mass layoffs.

Microsoft's 2021 acquisition of ZeniMax did not exempt Arkane Lyon from that rule, Destructoid noted in its translation of the Le Monde piece.

Union representatives told Le Monde that Microsoft began the mandatory search in the middle of summer and has not yet found a suitable buyer. They also said several parties are interested in taking over the studio.

Marvel's Blade Is Close to Done

Arkane Lyon's current project is Marvel's Blade, which was announced in 2023. Union representatives said it is nearing the end of production and that it would be a success if it reaches players.

Jason Schreier, a journalist who covers the games industry, said on Bluesky that he understands multiple paths to save Arkane Lyon are being actively explored. He added that anything can happen in negotiations, but he would be surprised if the studio were shut down.

Union Blames Xbox's Change in Strategy

The representatives described Microsoft's treatment of the team as disrespectful. They said the studio is a collateral victim of Xbox's change in strategy.

Arkane Lyon is the last Arkane studio standing. Microsoft has already shuttered the UK studio Ninja Theory and let go of teams such as Compulsion Games.

Double Fine and Undead Labs have since gone independent, and Push Square noted that both have been through layoffs.

Wider Xbox Restructure Continues

Microsoft is also reorganising its first-party operations. Xbox Game Studios appears to be winding down, with its remaining teams moving under Bethesda and Activision. The focus, Push Square reported, is on big franchises such as Fallout and Call of Duty.

Xbox has cut more than 1,800 jobs so far. Further redundancies are coming, and the company aims to eliminate 3,200 roles in total.

If a buyer or another arrangement comes together, Arkane Lyon would keep working on Blade. If not, the studio that made Dishonored 1 and 2, Deathloop and the in-development Blade faces closure after 13 November.

The post Arkane Lyon Has Until 13 November to Find a Buyer or Close appeared first on Stevivor.