A brand new report means that Arkane Austin wished to make a brand new single-player sport, similar to a Dishonored sequel, earlier than the studio was closed.
This comes from a brand new Bloomberg report from Jason Schreier, which helps shed extra mild on Microsoft’s latest determination to close down a number of Bethesda Softworks studios, together with Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Canine Video games.
In keeping with a number of sources conversant in the scenario, Arkane Austin – greatest recognized for its work on Dishonored, Prey, and 2023’s Redfall – had been trying to return to its roots with a brand new single-player “immersive sim”.
The concept was nonetheless within the pitching section earlier than the studio’s closure, however the single-player undertaking was advised to be a “new entry within the Dishonored sequence”.
It is unsure presently if the pitch may very well be handed on to a different crew underneath Arkane Studios, similar to Arkane Lyon.
In the identical report, it was additionally stated that Tango Gameworks had pitched a sequel to its critically acclaimed rhythm-action Hello-Fi Rush earlier than its shutdown.
Xbox Recreation Studios head, Matty Booty, and head of ZeniMax studios Jill Braff had been each current for a city corridor assembly with ZeniMax workers on Might 8 to debate the latest studio closure.
Booty reportedly praised Hello-Fi Rush however did not give a motive for Microsoft’s latest transfer, whereas additionally claiming Arkane Austin’s shut down had nothing to do with Redfall underperforming following it is launch final 12 months.
He later stated he felt Microsoft’s studio system was “unfold too skinny”, evaluating it to “peanut butter on bread”. Booty additionally stated they determined to shut Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin’s to “liberate assets elsewhere”.