New Delhi, May 8: Microsoft's Xbox division has made a decision to close four video game studios, including Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Studios and Roundhouse Games. This step from Xbox might come as a surprise to many gamers, signaling a significant shift within the gaming industry.

As per a report of Tech Times, Microsoft's Xbox division is shutting down these subsidiaries to realign resources and focus on high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda within their gaming portfolio. The announcement regarding changes was made by Matt Booty, the head of Xbox Game Studios. Matt Booty acknowledged that these organisational adjustments would lead to some job cuts and emphasised that Bethesda will remain a crucial part of Xbox. He highlighted that Bethesda has several highly anticipated titles scheduled for launch later in the year. TikTok, ByteDance Sues US Government To Block Potential Ban in Country.

Among the affected studios, Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks are particularly known for their titles and dedicated fan bases. The vampire co-op game Redfall, developed by Arkane Austin, has failed to meet the expectations of its users, positioning it as one of Microsoft's setbacks of the year. In response to the game's low performance, Microsoft has decided to halt further development on Redfall and close down the Arkane Austin studio.

Microsoft has revealed that Redfall generated limited sales as per a public document filed by Microsoft and Activision during their legal dispute with the Federal Trade Commission in 2023. However, Microsoft has assured that the game servers will stay operational, enabling players to still experience the game but there will be no future updates for the game. Additionally, the company has committed to compensating players who had pre-ordered content that will no longer be released. Apple Let Loose Event: iPad Air, iPad Pro with New Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Magic Keyboard Launched; Check Prices, Specifications and Features.

Microsoft will also be closing other subsidiary companies, which include Tango Gameworks. Tango Gameworks, the game development studio behind titles like The Evil Within, will be shutting down. Alpha Dog Studios, known for games like Mighty Doom will be shutting down and Roundhouse Games will be merged into ZeniMax Online Studios.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2024 09:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).