Multiple outlets report that Microsoft is considering closing, selling, or otherwise restructuring several Xbox Game Studios as part of a broader “reset” that includes layoffs and executive changes. The studios most consistently named are Ninja Theory, Double Fine, and Compulsion Games. Reports say Ninja Theory is seeking a buyer and could be shut down if no sale is agreed. For Double Fine and Compulsion Games, coverage describes negotiations or discussions in which the studios would potentially be able to buy themselves back rather than be fully dissolved.
While the details vary by outlet, the overall picture is that Microsoft’s “reset” is leading to studio-level upheaval, affecting long-running teams behind major releases. One report also says Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan is leaving amid the changes, alongside the broader departure of executives. Other coverage frames the moves as a continuation of previous waves of Xbox restructuring, including prior layoffs and studio closures.
As of this reporting, Microsoft’s plans are described as proposals or negotiations rather than finalized outcomes, depending on whether studios can secure buyers or buy back arrangements.
