Xbox's restructuring just claimed another studio, and the fallout is hitting Ninja Theory's Hellblade team in waves. Developers began posting on LinkedIn this week confirming they're either redundant or facing redundancy after two attempted sales of the studio collapsed in September. Xbox COO Matt Booty had noted the failed agreements in a memo, kicking off consultations that now appear to be delivering the expected outcome as part of the broader 2026 cuts.
Principal sound designer Daniele Galante wrote of nearly nine years at the studio and the "wealth of experience" they're carrying forward, while gameplay programmer Katrin Mair reflected on moving to the UK for the job and calling it a core part of her career. Principal programmer Stefano Prosperi posted about 13 years creating things the team genuinely cared about, even as the chapter ends amid sadness and uncertainty. Other staff including technical director Loong-Wei Ding, performance capture specialist Xoe Suvari, and technical sound designer Alessio Mellina have also gone public with their situations, with some noting the studio's closure puts the recently announced Senua project in limbo.
Ninja Theory had earned acclaim for the Hellblade series, with Senua's Saga: Hellblade II earning five-star reviews in 2024, yet it couldn't escape the spreadsheet math of Microsoft's "reset." The UK studio's fate remains formally open as Xbox claims it's still exploring paths forward, but the employee statements tell a clearer story of roles ending now.
The pattern is familiar: promises of consultation, failed divestitures, and then the quiet roll call of affected staff across programming, audio, art, and tech roles. Multiple reports confirm at least a dozen developers have confirmed impacts since late September.
