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With Hellblade studio Ninja Theory reportedly set to shut down, it's now been claimed that Microsoft was already planning to part with the studio in some fashion when its brand new game, Senua, was revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase at the start of the month.
Things aren't looking good for Xbox right now. After the highs of the Xbox Games Showcase and its big reveals, including Spyro: A Realm Beyond, Persona 6, and more, reports have emerged claiming that the publisher is planning even more layoffs, as well as some studio closures. Reportedly, Psychonauts studio Double Fine and South of Midnight's Compulsion Games are at risk, while a source told The Verge that Hellblade's Ninja Theory is shutting down, despite only just revealing a new game not even two weeks ago.
It's now been reported by Game File that Microsoft was planning to either split from Ninja Theory or sunset it by the time it revealed Senua – which tracks given that we're not even three weeks on from its trailer. A source now tells Game File that it was thought that revealing a new game could assist in drawing the interest of investors, though it's noted that it's not clear if any Ninja Theory leads were actually involved in that idea.
As for what happens next – both to Ninja Theory itself and Senua – that remains to be seen. At the time of the Xbox Games Showcase, it was announced that the studio was scrapping its experimental horror project, Project Mara, in favor of turning its full attention to Senua. The new action-adventure game was slated to launch sometime next year, but without an official announcement from the studio to confirm what's going on right now, it suddenly feels rather up in the air whether or not we'll actually see that happen.
Microsoft considered cutting Xbox off entirely and making it easier to sell, report says.
