Unfortunately, Ninja Theory Isn't Actually Safe From Microsoft

Ninja Theory might have games in the pipeline, but that doesn't mean Xbox won't close it for no reason

[rlow1]

Alot of speculation on their part. Ninja Theory has two games that have been green lighted and are in the works. Yes it’s always a possibility they could be closed but no matter how you feel about the Senua games. They do make a quality game. I personally think MS is going lay low for a bit, after the firestorm they experienced last week.

[darthv72]

I really hope one of them is a long awaited sequel of heavenly sword or enslaved. Both are good games that deserve a 2nd chance... or at least a reboot.

[blackblades]

I'm 100% doubt its heavenly sword for obvious reason and Enslave 99% doubt it.

[Rynxie]

Santa Monica is a great studio, but I would rather the minds behind the original make it (ninja theory). I never liked sequels that were done by someone else, they are usually never as good as the original.

[rlow1]

Enslaved would be awesome. If they did a remaster, then the next game in the series…..one can hope.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Hopefully they'd get Evan Wells back for a sequel to Enslaved. After the original Enslaved he went on to Naughty Dog and did The Last of Us.

[neutralgamer1992]

darth

HS IP is owned by sony and enslaved sold so poorly that you want a sequel now? let's say a sequel is made and sells like the first than this studio is for sure shut down. Their next game needs to be a big hit(if there is a next game)

rlow1

that's not how business works, if a studio needs to go it will go whether ot not that will come with negative PR. They just spent 100 billion and now they are in the phase to find out which studios will survive and which needs to go to cut costs. NT let a huge opportunity slip away, they had the backing of MS and the sequel has even less gameplay, that makes zero sense

[Chevalier]

How?! Sony owns one IP and Bandai owns the other one

[Plague-Doctor27]

Heavenly Sword IP is owned by Sony and Enslaved IP is owned by Namco Bandai

Hellblade was the only IP that Ninja Theory themselves owned when MS acquired them

[Sonic1881]

Heavenly Sword or Enslaved didn't sell that well

[Cacabunga]

NT completely lost it since dmc, their
last good game to date! And has been a long time since.
An average studio at best, got lured by MS money and forgot to improve

[Rynxie]

They make quality games, but they're usually hit or miss. Either they are average, or they are awesome. However, besides heavenly sword and DMC, they aren't big sellers either. Ms is as big of a corporation as it gets. If ninja theory isn't making them money, they will shut them down. Simple as that.

[MrDead]

Studio survival no matter who is reliant on MS's quarterly reports, if MS is looking to save money then studios like Ninja Theory are gone as we've seen with Tango and others. MS has their IP's, the devs mean nothing to them but a handy tool to balance the books with layoffs.

[DarXyde]

Eh, maybe. Microsoft seems like a phenomenally wealthy company that's (generally) wise with how they handle their finances. What they're not wise with is how they spend social capital. As soon as they get it, they spend it by doing something nefarious. Can't say they're the only ones of course.

Will they get rid of Ninja Theory? No earthly idea. Honestly, I have a hard time even speculating about it because we don't have any details on performance metrics. If I had to guess... And really, this is is a guess... It's just about engagement. It's the only thing that makes sense to me. If you've got a popular mobile game or MTX-heavy multiplayer game, you're safe. King and Activision aren't going anywhere. Even if player count tapers off, MTX keep them in the game as a form of engagement.

But then you've got single player games. I suspect that's a losing battle because single player games, unfortunately don't get long term engagement broadly. So games launching half baked is perhaps a strategy for the studios themselves to get people coming back to their games? It would make some sense, but it doesn't match with studios being surprised at the closures.

All of this to say, we'll just have to wait and see. The simplest explanation with the most streamlined thinking on the matter is just that they're getting rid of studios they see as dead weight in the long run. HFR was quite well received, but I guess it doesn't translate into happy investors because it's critical acclaim and not commercial success exactly. Bethesda isn't going anywhere. Making very long RPGs kind of saves you automatically in terms of engagement.

But on the other side of this, while studios don't close per se, nothing stops them or any other company from just cutting the work force within each studio.

[Einhander1972]

It's not for no reason.

The reason is they made two games that were underwhelming (Bleeding Edge) and didn't/aren't going to grow the user base for game pass.

They spent 5-7 years and this was what they produced, it's easy to see how they would be on the short list for termination at this point.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

One thing to point out was that all the recently closed studios were under Bethesda. Before being purchased by MS, Bethesda had a slew of poor or under performing titles (Evil Within 2, Prey (2017), Wolfenstein: The New Colossus, Young Blood, and initially Fallout 76 ). I don’t think, Ghost Wire Tokyo, Deathloop, Redfall and sadly even High-Fi: Rush performed well after the buyout.

[Einhander1972]

I bet this game with a 5-7 year dev cycle being launched directly onto game pass is going to generate less tangible cash profit than any of those games.

I'm sure Microsoft will brag about players or sword swings or some other pointless statistic, but those don't make cash money.

[Chevalier]

You do realize it took 3 platforms and like 2 years to sell 1 million for Hellblade 1 right? Added in 3 more platforms and it didn't move much.

Now cut our 4 platforms. How many copies do you think this will sell?! Not just played on Gamepass

[Lightning77]

Apparently Ninja Theory is safe From being closed down https://www.gamespot.com/ar...

Already working on a new game. They are a 80 person team and relatively inexpensive I suppose to any other publisher

Buuuuut.

Yeaah sorry this is MS, I don't believe anything MS says. They have to be joking if they think anyone will believe them besides gullible Xbox fanboys. Once again MS needs to earn my trust back. Just when they earn some trust back, they always seem to destroy it and have to work to get it back. I still think they're getting shut down and canceling whatever game they're making because the game won't sell, again MS fault for not advertising it.. This company man...

[FPSRUSSIA]

the article talks about that to i recommend checking it out when you get a chance.

[outsider1624]

The problem with this game probably not selling will be because of Gamepass. Every comment i see from xbox players are "dude, no need to buy this amazing game, just get it on gamepass"

Will it sell well based on word of mouth? Will they release it on ps5? Will ps players buy this game vs free on gamepass? Time will tell.

[JBlaze226]

Look at what happened to Hi Fi Rush.The game was sold on PS5 and didn't sell well.

[JBlaze226]

I mean Sony has done worst and no one speaks up about it.

[outsider1624]

Well i dont know about hi fi rush..as i didnt buy it. I mean others are getting it on gamepass..so ill just wait it for psplus. Im guessing others are doing the same..soo..

Sure Sony has done it too..and people are vocal about it. Look at the helldivers fiasco for example..they got called out.

[Knightofelemia]

I don't see Microsoft shutting off the lights to Ninja Theory. As a studio they actually have talent and have released some decent games. I love Enslaved maybe a sleeper hit but it's one of my favorites. Only way I see Microsoft shutting off the lights is if Ninja Theory releases games that sink faster then a lead weight. And there are fans of Ninja Theory one thing I would hate to see is Ninja Theory ending up like Bioware. Loosing all their talent and being a former shell of what they use to be.

[Elda]

Never say never. Tango Gameswork were just as talented as Ninja Theory & they were shut down.

[darthv72]

And they were also under Bethesda... Ninja Theory is not.

[Profchaos]

I honestly blame starfeild and Microsoft for the closure of arkane and tango it didn't turn a profit like other huge Bethesda games. If it .are fallout 4 money Bethesda would have had the capital to share among the other studios. Microsoft should of also had the ability to step in and save the studio but decided to kill them instead likely because of Bethesda's financial failure with starfield and Microsoft's stupid goal of turning gaming into a subscription that everyone and their grandmas subscribe to

[shaenoide]

To be honest for Microsoft (not Microsoft gaming) it's all about making for the 70 billion purchase of AKB. No matter how good the games are. If they don't generate sales or new gamepass subs the studios can be shutted down.

[Rynxie]

Yes, they make decent games, but do they sell? Unfortunately, no. Heavenly sword sold 1.5 million, even when the ps3 had a much lower install base than the 360. However, it's not a ninja theory ip. Enslaved sold poorly. DMC, sold well, but that's also not a ninja theory ip. Hellblade was a hit, but in my opinion, barely. Hellblade 2, unfortunately, might be a flop. There's no bigger corporation than Ms, they are as corporate as they come. If ninja theory isn't making them money, they will get shut down and their ips giving to another studio.

[Elda]

It was just announced that MS gave NT the greenlight for its next game. I just hope it's not another Hellblade. https://www.yahoo.com/tech/...

[shaenoide]

Tango was working on a new game.

[jznrpg]

Xbox - Green light
MS - Red light

[Sonic1881]

I just finished Hellblade in under 6 in a half hours. I was surprised how short the game was for the askingprice. I thought the first game was better and be prepared for a lot of walking

[Barlos]

Gameranx said the exact same thing. Seems the ending was rushed a bit.

[Jingsing]

I suspect they are safe in the sense that Microsoft won't want anymore backlash so they will probably RARE'ify them as an asset to avoid headlines. Meaning it will be a slow death over a decade until the only thing that remains is the name.

[Fonsecap]

Maybe not now, but in a close future, unfortunately, ms will shut them down

[Barlos]

Nobody that Microsoft buys is safe from Microsoft

[thesoftware730]

Lol, so so silly.

This has got to stop. You can literally put any studio's name in this situation, in the current gaming climate.

[Petebloodyonion]

Another take on We are sure a company is evil so let's hope it will act like a Saturday morning cartoon villain instead of a company with shareholders.

Here is some simple financial logic (that has already been applied to Sony)

Microsoft won't shut down Ninja Theory simply because they recently made the purchase of that specific studio.
shutting down the studio would mean to Share Holders that:
- They have lost most of the assets they bought (aside from a couple of IPS).
- Xbox is losing faith or is abandoning why they acquired Ninja Theory in the 1st place.
- Xbox can't properly manage the money of shareholders since they would close something they recently purchased.

In the case of Arkane Studio and Tango Framework they were part of Bethesda and bundled in the acquisition.

As I said this can be validated by Sony who recently closed the PlayStation longtime London Studio while making massive cuts to Firesprite (some former members of London Studio).
People should remember that Firesprite was recently acquired so for the same reason, it would have been stupid company-wise to terminate a recent acquisition.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Still no excuse that Tango made an award winning very amazing products yet shuts them down no diff with Ninja Theory

[Petebloodyonion]

I agree with you and why lots of Xbox users are angry with this move and why Phil Spencer doesn't dare face the music.
But if the decision came from higher-ups at MS then it can easily be explained to shareholders that Tango and Arkane studios were already non profitable under Bethesda has both studios have yet to create profit.
A financial explanation that Microsoft already had similar studios before the Bethesda acquisition (Ninja Theory to Tango and several big studios).

Like I said I don't agree but in financial terms, Closing Tango which is a small part of the acquisition is not the same as closing a complete acquisition like Ninja Theory.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

@pete
I definitely do but under Microsoft no one is safe just keep that in mind.

[RiseNShine]

i can't imagine how terryfing must be working for MS right now, you were supposedly safe by working under the protection of a multi billion company, but not anymore, so any studio is at risk, even those with very successful releases like Hifi Rush.

[TheEroica]

All these negative opinion pieces rising to the top of N4G... The Sony defense force haaaates Microsoft so much.

[mastershredder]

They took the cheese. Bad on them. They risk their entire studio, their assets and their employees. The gamble comes to bite you and it bites hard. Should have stayed in safe harbor, but you know.... $$$ brings out the greedy and dumb in people. Ninja Theory should have known far better then to get in that bed.

[Profchaos]

Well yeah I'm sure tango and arkane had something in the pipeline to.
Having a project greenlit doesn't mean safety projects are frequently approved prior to the completion of another game most games are worked on in pre prod prior to the main projects completion.

Ninja theory's saving grace is their size the running cost of the studio is very low compared to other studios.

I'm hopeful they are not shut down because even if I didn't like hb2 from a story and thematic point of view the game was beautiful the animations were nice and overall it could have made for a great game if it was something else the bones of hb2 are perfect the game itself not so much at least not for me.