Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that they were trying to sell UK-based Hellblade creators Ninja Theory as part of their steady efforts to siphon larger and shinier doubloons from the Xbox gaming business by laying off thousands of people. Today, they are proposing to close Ninja Theory, having ultimately failed to reach an agreement with unknown parties about buying the studio, though they're still holding out some hope of a happier outcome. The news comes as part of the latest round of Microsoft cuts, which have seen Xbox lay off 268 people and merge several of their best-known studios.
Back in July, Microsoft announced that Ninja Theory alongside Undead Labs had "entered terms to join new ownership with funding to complete and grow" their existing projects. While Undead Labs have now been successfully sold off, Microsoft haven't managed to stick the landing with Ninja Theory. "Unfortunately, two separate agreements for Ninja Theory fell through," writes Xbox chief creative office Matt Booty in a newswire memo. "We will now begin consultation with employees on a proposed closure while continuing to explore other paths forward."
If I take consolation from anything, it's that Ninja Theory have been kicked around a fair bit over the years and have managed to pull trough. Founded in 2000 as Just Add Monsters Limited, they were initially owned by Argonaut Games, for whom they created original Xbox title Kung Fu Chaos. After Argonaut went under, Ninja Theory bought their independence. They subsequently avoided bankruptcy by signing on with Sony to make spirited but formulaic PS3 action game Heavenly Sword, notable for the presence of Andy Serkis as a mad king.
Ninja Theory found fame with the well-received Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, an Alex Garland collaboration and rewrite of the Chinese novel Journey to the West. Then, they found infamy with DmC: Devil May Cry, a reboot for Capcom's then-ailing action series that takes inspiration from Fight Club, Jack Kerouac, and The Sex Pistols.
Nowadays, of course, Ninja Theory are best known for the Hellblade games, beginning with 2017's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. I really liked Senua's Sacrifice, which attempts to portray psychosis by way of a disembodied chorus redolent of Greek theatre, though I've read mixed reactions from people who have experienced the condition themselves. Microsoft acquired Ninja Theory in 2018, and Ninja Theory went onto make Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, which our reviewer Rick Lane had very mixed feelings about. They announced development of a third game, Senua, just weeks before Microsoft announced that they were selling Ninja Theory off. The rather callous close timing of these announcements was apparently a bid to rustle up interest from buyers.
Current and former Ninja Theory staff are speaking out about the situation on LinkedIn. "Well, the timing is certainly… interesting," observes Hellblade motion capture artist Robynne Austin, in a post announcing that she's open for work. Former producer Chris Rowe, meanwhile, says he's "devastated" by the news.
"I had one of the best times of my career working at Ninja Theory on Enslaved: Odyssey to the Wes and some DmC afterwards before then leaving to join Capcom, and even after all these years, I'm still blown away by the amount of talent inside that studio," Rowe recalls.
"The crazy thing? Quite a few of the folks I worked with back in the early 2010's are STILL there today and have become absolute masters of their respective crafts. I have so much respect for the skill and talent of that team.
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