{"rewrite":{"id":"r_3ba773e3caa7e10255ae61b5","clusterId":"c_4b38d3ea5eb47c95eb0aa8fa","slug":"multiple-xbox-game-studios-reportedly-facing-closure-including-ninja-theory","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Multiple Xbox Game Studios Reportedly Facing Closure, Including Ninja Theory","summary":"Multiple outlets report that several studios under Xbox Game Studios are at risk of closure, with Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, and Double Fine named as those facing potential shutdown or forced independence. According to The Verge, Ninja Theory staff were informed of the closure on June 15, 2026, and the studio hopes a buyer can be found. Bloomberg reports that Compulsion Games and Double Fine are in discussions to leave Xbox Game Studios. The reports follow the recent resignation of Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and Chief of Staff Louise O'Connor, as reported by The Game Business. These moves come after Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced a business reset earlier this year, which included plans for large-scale layoffs and budget cuts. The studios in question were all acquired by Microsoft between 2018 and 2019. Ninja Theory had just announced a new title, 'Senua', at the Xbox Games Showcase days before the reported closure. Microsoft has not officially commented on the reports.","whyItMatters":"The reported closures target studios Microsoft acquired less than a decade ago, signaling a sharp reversal of its content-expansion strategy under the new Xbox leadership's business reset.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eNinja Theory staff were told of the closure during a conference call on June 15, according to The Verge. The studio is based in Cambridge, UK. It had just announced the new title \u0026#34;Senua\u0026#34; at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 16, a 2027 release that inherits the DNA of the \u0026#34;Hellblade\u0026#34; series. The Verge reports that staff hope a buyer can be found for the studio.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompulsion Games, based in Montreal, Canada, employs about 90 people according to LinkedIn, though Kotaku reports the actual number is higher and multiple employees have started job hunting on social media. The studio released \u0026#34;South of Midnight\u0026#34; last year. Its management told Kotaku they are \u0026#34;negotiating with Microsoft about the studio\u0026#39;s future\u0026#34; but did not disclose details. Bloomberg reports that Compulsion Games and Double Fine may be given the opportunity to become independent.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDouble Fine, based in San Francisco, USA, is known for the \u0026#34;Psychonauts\u0026#34; series. It released \u0026#34;Keeper\u0026#34; last year and \u0026#34;Kiln\u0026#34; in April this year. All three studios were acquired by Microsoft between 2018 and 2019.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCraig Duncan, who became head of Xbox Game Studios in November 2024, stepped down on June 15. Until a successor is found, Xbox Game Studios will be under the command of Matt Booty, Xbox\u0026#39;s Chief Content Officer. Louise O\u0026#39;Connor, Chief of Staff of Xbox Game Studios, also left Microsoft. O\u0026#39;Connor started her career as an animator for the Nintendo 64 game \u0026#34;Conker\u0026#39;s Bad Fur Day.\u0026#34;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eXbox CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty issued a joint statement declaring a business reset, which they said was driven by declining annual sales due to increased competition and rising hardware component prices. The statement also said the studio system had been overly expanded to supply content for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft has not officially commented on the studio closures or layoffs.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Ninja Theory staff were told the studio is closing on June 15, just days after announcing a new Hellblade game at the Xbox showcase. The studio hopes a buyer can be found.","twitterPost":"Reports: Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, Double Fine face closure as Xbox restructures. Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan has resigned. No official comment from Microsoft yet.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Multiple outlets report that Xbox Game Studios is planning to close or spin off several acquired studios, including Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, and Double Fine. The reports follow the resignation of Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and come amid a broader business reset under new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260616-449886/\",\"title\":\"Multiple Studios at Xbox Game Studios Reportedly Facing 'Closure Crisis', Including Ninja Theory of 'Hellblade' Series and Other Accomplished Developers. 'Xbox Reset' Underway?\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/06/16/168023.html\",\"title\":\"One Week After New Game Announcement... Reports Say Ninja Theory, Developer of 'Hellblade', Is Closing - Other Xbox-Related Studios May Also Face Crisis\"},{\"source\":\"GIGAZINE\",\"url\":\"https://gigazine.net/news/20260616-xbox-executives-depart-compulsion-games-shuts-down/\",\"title\":\"Xbox executives resign, and subsidiary game studios Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory may be closed\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":11211,"outputTokens":1383,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1781577719,"createdAt":"2026-06-16T02:30:34.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-06-16T02:34:57.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-16T02:34:57.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_4b38d3ea5eb47c95eb0aa8fa","canonicalTitle":"XBOX Game Studiosにて複数のスタジオが“閉鎖危機”との報道、『Hellblade』シリーズのNinja Theoryなど実績ある開発元も対象に。「XBOXリセット」進行中か","representativeArticleId":"a_e9c4916bd0c729a28c31fa44","sourceCount":4,"writtenSourceCount":3,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Hellblade\"],\"studios\":[\"Ninja Theory\",\"Xbox Game Studios\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-06-16T00:04:34.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-06-17T10:16:42.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-06-17T10:22:24.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/ninja-theory-20260617-450231/","title":"新作発表後すぐ“閉鎖危機”のNinja Theory、「新作発表前からスタジオ閉鎖・売却方針が決まっていた」との報道。“買い手”を探す狙いもあってか"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/06/17/168099.html","title":"閉鎖報道のNinja Theory、最新作『Senua』発表時点でマイクロソフトは提携解消計画を立てていた…？海外メディア報じる"},{"source":"GameBusiness.jp","url":"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/06/16/27222.html","title":"新作発表から1週間…『Hellblade』開発元Ninja Theory閉鎖すると報道―他のXBOX関連スタジオも危機に直面か"},{"source":"GIGAZINE","url":"https://gigazine.net/news/20260616-xbox-executives-depart-compulsion-games-shuts-down/","title":"XBOXの幹部が退任＆傘下のゲームスタジオCompulsion Games＆Ninja Theoryが閉鎖か"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Hellblade"],"studios":["Ninja Theory","Xbox Game Studios"],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}