A new report from Bloomberg says Dishonored developer Arkane might not be as doomed as it appeared last month, as multiple companies have made offers to acquire the studio.
Citing "people familiar with the negotiations," the Bloomberg report says Ubisoft is among Arkane's suitors, as are at least two other unnamed gaming companies. Xbox has also considered selling the studio to its own management, effectively making it independent, although whether that option is still on the table isn't clear.
Despite producing an enviable slate of acclaimed immersive sims over the years (until it was compelled by senior leadership to do otherwise), Arkane fell victim to the Xbox "reset" in July that saw thousands of employees laid off (with more still awaiting their fates) and four studios cast adrift. Arkane avoided being the fifth, reportedly thanks to France's "Florange Law" that compelled Xbox to search for a buyer before pulling the plug.
The deadline for that search was November 13, after which Arkane would be shuttered—but a few weeks ahead of that date, Microsoft extended it by a month, to "explore options, including finding a partner to support the studio through the development work still ahead," a reference to the Marvel's Blade game Arkane currently has in development. That extension suggested there was at least some hope that Arkane might find a new home, instead of being closed.
Going from Xbox to Ubisoft could be viewed as a "frying pan to fire" move, given Ubisoft's own ongoing financial struggles, layoffs, and closures. But Arkane's immersive sim expertise could be a good fit for some of Ubisoft's biggest properties, including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and—yes, I'm just going to say it—Splinter Cell, which would be magnificent in the style of Dishonored. Arkane and Ubisoft both being French companies can't hurt, either.
I've reached out to Xbox and Ubisoft for comment on the report, and will update if I receive a reply.
