Microsoft is reportedly giving Arkane Lyon another month to finish Marvel’s Blade.
Confirmed yesterday, the gaming company will give the developers until Dec. 13 to find another company to help finish the project. Arkane Lyon has more time to find a buyer and keep the studio afloat. If the developers succeed, they could save not only the Blade project but also the jobs of 217 employees.
Marvel’s Blade video game was first announced in 2023 for the 50th anniversary of the character’s first appearance. Conceptualized as a single-player third-person game, the project follows the titular character fighting against vampires who have taken over the streets of Paris. Game Director Dinga Bakaba and Co-Creative and Art Director Sebastien Mitton oversaw the game’s creation.
Since its first announcement, the game’s launch was reportedly delayed internally due to budget concerns and company changes, which pushed back the release date. Similarly, the planned movie for the character was also delayed numerous times before ultimately being canceled.
The video game is reportedly close to being finished now. A reveal was planned for early next year, with a later release in the fourth quarter.
With the additional time, the developers at Arkane Lyon could potentially meet the deadlines.
“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,” said Microsoft in a statement. “This is a defined extension, and we remain committed to keeping the Works Council informed throughout the process.”
The changes to studios and projects come as Xbox continues to lay off employees. Yesterday, it was reported that Microsoft offered 60,000 employees voluntary pay-outs to exit. Some of the employees offered a package were Xbox employees.
More changes are expected at the video game company, as Xbox reportedly plans more rounds of layoffs.
In July, the Xbox division cut approximately 1,600 jobs. About 3,200 employees will be let go, with another 1,600 expected to be let go next year.
Several studios were impacted, including Compulsion Games, Double Fine Productions, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. Arkane Lyon was one of the studios that were told to review other management options.
“These changes are about a bigger future for XBOX, not a smaller one. The next decade of gaming will be larger, more global, and more creative than anything we’ve seen before,” said Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. “This year, we’ll invest as much in XBOX as we ever have, but we’ll invest with greater focus, greater discipline, and greater clarity, all in service of making XBOX where the world plays and creates.”
