Today it was revealed that Microsoft has decided to close three development studios under its games division Bethesda Softworks and merge another one with ZeniMax Online Studios. One of the three teams that was completely shut down was Arcana Austin. The last game he created was the vampire-themed shooter red fallwhich launched to mixed reviews in May 2023.
On time red fall Has not received a software update since November 2023, IGN It is being reported through unnamed sources that the Arkane Austin team was actually working on the next update for the game which was due out later in May. This update would have added a way to play the game completely offline.
red fall Marketed as an always-online game when it launched, but offering an offline mode would have preserved the game even if its servers shut down at some point in the future. Today’s decision to shut down Arkane Austin likely means the patch will never be released.
IGN also adds that Arkan Austin was still working on the Hero Pack DLC content, which would have added two new hero characters red fall. IGN says the plan was to release the hero pack sometime around Halloween 2024.
Bethesda has already stated that purchasers of the Redfall Bite Back The edition and Hero Pass add-on will receive “credit” in the future as the DLC will not be released but details of this credit offer have not yet been revealed.
Besides Arkane Austin, Microsoft is shutting down Tango Gameworks, the developers of the evil inside, Tokyo: Ghostwireand Hi-Fi Rush. The team’s latest game ended up becoming Microsoft’s most critically acclaimed first-party game released in 2023. Alpha Dog Games, the makers of the mobile game Adir Dom, will also be closed. Another Bethesda developer, Roadhouse Games, is not closing, but will be merged with it The Elder scrolls online Developer ZeniMax Online Studios.
Microsoft has not yet disclosed how many people will lose their jobs as part of this latest restructuring. The company laid off 1,900 people in the gaming division at the end of January.