Ubisoft has reportedly submitted an offer to acquire Arkane Studios as Microsoft looks to divest from the Lyon-based developer amid layoffs across Xbox and other parts of the company. Bloomberg reported that at least three companies have bid for the studio, with Xbox also considering a sale to Arkane’s management.
French labor laws require Xbox to seek a potential buyer for Arkane. The studio’s future had appeared uncertain last month, when talks over a redundancy plan for potentially affected employees were reportedly struggling ahead of a November 13 deadline. That deadline to find Arkane a new home was later extended. Xbox is exploring its options ahead of a December deadline, Bloomberg reported, and has not accepted any offer.
The decision could affect Marvel’s Blade, which Arkane announced at The Game Awards in 2023. The studio has said little about the game since, and its internal release target has reportedly slipped to late 2027. Bloomberg reported that Blade is expected to launch within the next year or two. If Arkane is sold rather than shut down, it may be able to complete development of the game.
Sources: Polygon.