The fate of one of the most valued Xbox studios could be more uncertain than previously thought.
According to a new report by journalist Stephen Totilo, Microsoft allegedly already had plans to shut down or spin off Ninja Theory at the time when Senua, the new installment of the Hellblade series, was presented during this year's Xbox Games Showcase. If the claims are accurate, the situation becomes quite unusual. Namely, Totilo claims that Microsoft had considered options that would involve shutting down the studio or separating it from Xbox even before the announcement, and the presentation of the new project was supposedly meant to increase interest from potential investors or buyers. In other words, the new Senua could have served as a way to make the studio more attractive in the market. According to sources cited in the report, the plan was to "shut down or spin off" Ninja Theory, but it is not yet known how many studio employees were aware of such discussions or if they even participated in them. Microsoft has not commented on these claims so far.
This story comes after increasingly loud rumors that Xbox is considering closing or restructuring several of its internal studios. Besides Ninja Theory, Double Fine Productions and Compulsion Games have also been mentioned in reports. So far, none of this information has been officially confirmed. Nevertheless, the entire situation fits into recent statements from Xbox leadership. The new head of Xbox, Asha Sharma, recently admitted that the company has become "too spread out" after years of aggressive acquisitions and that a period of reorganization and redefining priorities is ahead. This has raised concerns among fans, especially regarding studios that may not be commercial giants but have built a strong reputation among gamers over the years.
Ninja Theory certainly belongs to that group. From Heavenly Sword and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West to the Hellblade series, the British studio has built an identity based on narratively strong, creative, and technically impressive projects. Because of this, the news of a possible shutdown has caused concern among Xbox fans and single-player game enthusiasts in general.
I must admit that the potential loss of Ninja Theory would be a difficult move to understand. Hellblade may never have sold millions of copies like some other hits, but it is precisely such projects that have given Xbox a creative identity over the years and shown that the platform can offer something different from pure blockbuster spectacle.
For now, everything remains in the realm of rumors and unofficial reports. But if it turns out that Microsoft indeed planned the future of Ninja Theory before publicly presenting the new Hellblade, we are looking at one of the most unusual Xbox stories in recent years.
