Arkane Lyon faces November deadline to find buyer or face closure

French developer Arkane Lyon faces potential closure if a buyer is not found by mid-November, French outlet Le Monde reported. The studio, owned by Microsoft Xbox, currently employs 217 people and is developing the action title Marvel's Blade. Reports from IGN, GameSpot, and VGChartz confirm that the studio has a deadline of November 13 to secure a new owner. [1][4][7][10]

The search for a buyer began during the summer following Microsoft's decision to split with the studio, Rock Paper Shotgun, IGN, and Eurogamer reported. Under France's 2014 Florange Law, companies with more than 1,000 workers must search for a buyer for at least three months before shutting a location down. Rock Paper Shotgun reported that several forms of a potential takeover are under consideration. [3][4][5][7]

Union delegates said that negotiations over the employee protection plan with Microsoft have been going poorly, according to Hip-Hop Wired and Insider Gaming. Production on Marvel's Blade is reportedly nearing its end amid the uncertainty over the studio's future, Rock Paper Shotgun and Metro.co.uk reported. Hip-Hop Wired noted that the project could be shelved if the studio closes. [1][3][9]

Arkane Lyon is best known for developing first-person action games including Dishonored 2 and Deathloop. The developer previously operated alongside sister studio Arkane Austin, which Microsoft closed in 2024, GamesRadar reported. [2][3][4][5]