Microsoft Shuts Down Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks & Alpha Dog Studios

In a surprising move, Microsoft confirmed on Tuesday the closure of three ZeniMax teams: Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Studios. This decision has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, with strong reactions from enthusiasts and industry experts alike.

Matt Booty, president of Microsoft's Game Content and Studios, shared the news with employees via email. While some team members will transition to other ZeniMax units, the majority will be laid off, marking a significant shift in Microsoft's gaming strategy.

The immediate impact is felt by the development of Arkane Austin's much-anticipated video game, Redfall. The game's development has come to a halt, disappointing fans eagerly awaiting new content. For those who purchased the game's Bite Back edition for $100, partial refunds will be available, as they will not receive the planned downloadable content. The last update to Redfall was released in November 2023.

Despite the closure, Arkane Studios took to X (formerly Twitter) to assure players that \"Redfall's servers will remain online for players to enjoy.\" This gesture aims to maintain the game's active community, even as new developments cease.

The gaming world watches closely as Microsoft reshapes its portfolio, and stakeholders await what this means for future projects under the ZeniMax banner. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!