Ever since Microsoft decided to reorganise its Xbox Studios, Arkane's future has been uncertain to say the least. But the Lyon-based studio might finally be glimpsing light at the end of the tunnel. According to Jason Schreier, Ubisoft is said to be keenly interested in buying up the teams currently at work on Marvel's Blade. And since good news rarely travels alone, we also learn that at least two other potential buyers have come forward.
Arkane about to be bought by Ubisoft?
For now, the Redmond firm has reportedly not responded to any offer. It is even said to be considering selling Arkane to the studio's own management so that it can regain its independence. The approach is reminiscent of the one used for Compulsion Games (which we covered yesterday) and Double Fine Productions. It could notably allow Arkane to recover the rights to the licences it has worked on in recent years — Dishonored and Deathloop spring to mind.
Either way, a Microsoft representative told Bloomberg that every option was being examined. The question is which one would be the safest for Arkane. For instance, would it be wise to hand the studio over to a Ubisoft whose own ship is already listing badly, with mass layoffs and cancelled projects?
And wouldn't going independent again be just as risky? Guillaume Provost, the head of Compulsion Games, has said that, even though the studio was saved from closure, every project will from now on have to be financially profitable as well as true to the company's DNA. That's not necessarily an easy balance to strike.
In any case, the clock is ticking: Arkane has until 13 December to find a buyer. The initial deadline had been set for 13 November, but Microsoft decided to grant extra time, with 217 jobs on the line.
