Ubisoft has reportedly submitted a bid to acquire Arkane, the studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop, which Microsoft is seeking to divest as part of an Xbox restructuring. The deal could also help Arkane continue work on Marvel’s Blade, according to a Bloomberg report.
Microsoft is also reportedly considering selling Arkane back to its management. The terms of the proposals have not been disclosed, and the studio could close if no agreement is reached. A Microsoft spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company is still exploring options ahead of a December deadline.
Microsoft extended the deadline for finding a potential buyer last month. Ubisoft and Arkane are both based in France, and Ubisoft has previously developed a game using a Disney-owned property, releasing Star Wars Outlaws in 2024.
Ubisoft is also dealing with layoffs and restructuring amid revenue shortfalls, debt payments and production delays. The company employs more than 15,000 people and has no major blockbuster releases planned for this fall.
Sources: Kotaku.