A Week After Revealing Its New Game, Hellblade Studio Ninja Theory Is Reportedly Under Threat of Closure by Microsoft

Hellblade developer Ninja Theory and Psychonauts developer Double Fine are reportedly among the studios fighting to avoid closure as Microsoft makes significant cuts to the Xbox business.

Bloomberg reported that Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine are all negotiating with Microsoft to potentially go independent, although doing so would still likely result in significant layoffs.

Earlier today, The Game Business reported that Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan had stepped down, then Kotaku reported that South of Midnight developer Compulsion was under threat of closure. Now, Bloomberg is reporting that pretty much all Microsoft-owned studios are concerned about what happens next, with Ninja Theory and Double Fine named as being in talks with their parent company.

IGN has asked Microsoft for comment.

Just last week, new Xbox boss Asha Sharma warned of a company “reset” that most took as a signal that Microsoft planned big layoffs and studio closures. One analyst told IGN “the…