Bloomberg's Jason Schreier says Ubisoft and at least two other gaming companies have made offers to buy Arkane Lyon from Xbox, and Xbox has also weighed selling the studio to its own management. No deal is done yet, but the odds of Marvel's Blade getting finished just went way up.
The fight to save Arkane Lyon just got a lot more interesting. According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, several companies have made offers to buy the Dishonored and Marvel’s Blade developer from Xbox, and one of them is Ubisoft.
This is the next chapter of the story we covered on October 23, when Microsoft extended Arkane Lyon’s consultation period by a month and said it was actively looking for a partner to finish Blade. Less than two weeks later, there are real bids on the table.
Schreier broke the news on X at 3:49 PM ET today, Tuesday, November 3:
What you need to know
- Who’s bidding: “Ubisoft Entertainment SA made a bid for the studio, as have at least two other gaming companies,” per Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the negotiations who asked not to be named. The other bidders have not been named.
- Another option: Bloomberg says Xbox has also weighed selling the studio to its management, which would make Arkane Lyon an independent studio again.
- No deal yet: Xbox has not reached an agreement with any potential buyer, per the report.
- What it means for Blade: Bloomberg’s report says any deal would likely allow Marvel’s Blade to be finished.
- The deadline: The process has to wrap up in December. Microsoft extended the consultation by one month in October, pushing the original November 13 deadline into mid-December.
- Jobs on the line: About 217 jobs are at risk at the studio, per Le Monde’s October reporting.
- No official word: Microsoft, Xbox, Ubisoft and Arkane have not publicly commented on the bids as of publishing.
How we got here
Microsoft told Arkane Lyon staff in July that it intended to close the studio. Because Microsoft is a company of its size operating in France, the country’s Florange Law requires it to look for a buyer before going through with a closure like that. That’s why there’s a formal search and a formal deadline.
On October 23, French newspaper Le Monde reported a November 13 deadline. Microsoft then told PC Gamer: “We have extended the consultation period by one additional month as we explore options, including finding a partner to support the studio through the development work still ahead. This is a defined extension, and we remain committed to keeping the Works Council informed throughout the process.”
That same day, Schreier wrote: “My understanding is that there are multiple paths actively being explored that would save Arkane Lyon. Anything can happen during negotiations, but at this point I’d be surprised if the studio is shut down.” Today’s report finally tells us who is actually sitting at the table.
Marvel’s Blade was revealed at The Game Awards in December 2023 and has not been shown since. A union representative told Le Monde in October that the game “is nearing the end” of production, while sources close to Arkane told the paper there is still significant work ahead.
We’re excited to announce Marvel’s Blade is in development from Arkane Lyon, the award-winning studio behind Dishonored and DEATHLOOP. In collaboration with @MarvelGames, Marvel’s Blade is a mature, single-player, third-person game set in the heart of Paris. #TheGameAwards pic.twitter.com/i4F7oH5vys
, Bethesda (@bethesda) December 8, 2023
Why Ubisoft makes sense on paper
Ubisoft and Arkane go way back. Ubisoft published Arkane’s Dark Messiah of Might and Magic in 2006, and Ubisoft still owns the Might and Magic series. Both companies are French, and Arkane Lyon sits in Lyon, France. Arkane later joined Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax, which Microsoft bought in 2021, and that’s how the studio behind Dishonored, Dishonored 2 and Deathloop ended up under Xbox.
The reaction on X has been mostly relief. A lot of players are saying the same thing: whoever buys it, a sale beats a shutdown.
Who should end up owning Arkane Lyon?
Vote and see what other Xbox fans think.
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OnPoint’s take: This is the best news Arkane Lyon has had all year. Back in October the word was “closure.” Now there are at least three companies bidding plus a management buyout option, which tells you exactly how much the industry still values this team and this game. Nobody makes an offer on a studio they think is done.
Here’s what people aren’t talking about: Xbox could have just let the clock run out. Instead it extended the deadline, kept Blade alive and is now weighing multiple offers, including one that would let the studio’s own leadership run it. That’s the right way to handle a tough call, and if it ends with Blade in players’ hands, that’s a W for everybody.
If Ubisoft lands it, we just hope they let Arkane be Arkane. A management buyout keeping the team together and independent would be the cleanest ending. Either way, we want Blade to ship, and we want it on Xbox and PC.
Image: Bethesda Softworks / Arkane Lyon / Marvel Games (Bethesda.net)
Sources
- Jason Schreier on X: SCOOP: Several companies have made offers to buy Dishonored developer Arkane Lyon
- Bloomberg: Xbox’s Arkane Studios Attracts Multiple Bidders, Including Ubisoft
- KitGuru: Ubisoft and others make offers to buy Arkane Studios
- Gematsu: Report: Arkane Studios has until November 13 to find a buyer
- Push Square: Microsoft gives Dishonored dev more time to find a buyer
