Key information
Xbox studio Ninja Theory, known for Hellblade, has begun laying off employees. This follows warnings from Microsoft that the studio was at serious risk of closure after two separate agreements to save the studio or make it independent collapsed last month, according to Matt Booty.
Multiple team members have taken to LinkedIn to confirm their departures or impending layoffs. Affected staff span various disciplines, including programmer Katrin Mair, sound designer Alessio Mellina, and technical director Loong-Wei Ding.
According to Game File reports, Xbox intended to sell Ninja Theory around the time it revealed a trailer for the third game in the series, titled Senua, which was slated for release in 2027. The trailer reportedly served as a showcase to attract potential buyers, but with the deals falling through, the future of both the game and the studio remains in doubt.
