After Xbox CCO Matt Booty revealed that two agreements for Ninja Theory fell through, the Hellblade developer has begun layoffs. Journalist Chris Kerr first reported developers announcing their departures on LinkedIn, and VGC corroborated the same.
Those laid off include gameplay programmer Katrin Mair, who wrote, “After four years, it’s hard to put into words how much this place and the people in it have meant to me. I’ve learned an incredible amount, grown so much as a programmer, and had the chance to work with some genuinely brilliant people.
“What I’ll remember most is how much people cared. About the work, about the details, and about each other. I feel very lucky that this was the place where I got to start my career and grow into the programmer I am today. It’s incredibly sad knowing that we won’t get to finish what we were working on. So much care, talent and effort went into it, and I really wish we’d had the chance to see what it could have become.”
Other departures include technical director Loong-Wei Ding, senior technical artist Matt Le-Fevre, technical artist Justin Pedersen, principal sound designer Daniele Galante, character artist Pietro Berto, sound designer Matteo Tummino and PCap tech staff Xoe Subari. Of course, Xbox has not commented on the same, nor has Ninja Theory announced whether the studio is shutting down.
It’s also unknown what will happen to Senua, the third title in the Hellblade series revealed last June during the Xbox Games Showcase. Mair stating that they “won’t get to finish what we were working on” could be interpreted as the project going unfinished. Of course, it could also mean that the laid-off developers won’t be a part of finishing it.
Either way, it’s another casualty in Xbox’s recent layoffs, which resulted in Halo Studios facing reductions, Activision being handed the Halo IP, Turn 10 Studios combining with Playground Games, Obsidian Entertainment now working under Bethesda, and much more. And with The Coalition reportedly worried that it may be next after shipping Gears of War: E-Day, you have to wonder where leadership will draw the line.
