Several Xbox-owned game studios are reportedly exploring deals that would return them to independence as Microsoft restructures its gaming division. Bloomberg reports that Compulsion Games in Montreal, Double Fine Productions in San Francisco, and Ninja Theory in Cambridge, England are each in active negotiations to “buy their way out” of Microsoft rather than face potential closure. The discussions center on arrangements that would separate the studios from the Xbox organization, although outcomes are not confirmed.
Both outlets describe the negotiations as occurring against a backdrop of broader changes at Microsoft’s gaming business, including a shift toward larger, higher-priority franchises and responses to weaker financial performance. If the studios succeed in securing spin-off or independence arrangements, the reporting indicates that many employees could still face uncertainty depending on the final terms of any deal. Neither source provides details on pricing, timelines, or what specific restructuring plans the studios are trying to avoid, and it remains unclear whether negotiations will result in completed agreements.
