Key Takeaways
- Arkane Austin was dissolved earlier this year and the studios founder has not held back about the closure.
- The studio was highly regarded after Prey, but Redfall flopped after being widely panned by critics and players.
- Microsoft has been criticized for closing studios like Arkane Austin for purely financial reasons.
As a long-time fan of Arkane Studios and their incredible work, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment at the dissolution of their Austin division. The team behind Prey, a game that remains one of my all-time favorites, and Redfall, despite its less-than-stellar reception, has always shown an uncanny ability to weave magic into their games.
Although Arkane isn’t entirely defunct, its Texas division was disbanded earlier this year. The decision to shut it down originated from Microsoft’s higher-ups, and in an interview with PCGamer, the studio’s founder and ex-president labeled the closure as a “regrettable choice”.
Arkane Austin, recognized by some, is the studio responsible for the 2017 launch of Prey, a game that managed to stay under the radar even with applause from both players and critics.
Although they’re often recognized for creating Redfall, a lesser-known title, it’s worth noting that this lack of fame doesn’t come with any qualifiers. The game was not well-received by many players.
Following these achievements, Microsoft decided it was time to wind down operations, leading to the closure of studios like Arcane Austin and several others, under instructions from higher-ups.
It seems quite clear that the team at Arkane Austin was exceptionally talented, capable of creating unique and impressive works, and they have the potential to do so again in the future.
Raphael Colantonio, creator of Arkane Studios, held the position of president at the company for almost twenty years. During an interview, he shared his affection for the Austin branch and the team members there.
Collaboration among a group of individuals can truly bring about something extraordinary. Unlike simply replacing personnel with little concern, it’s more effective to experiment. That’s often how large organizations operate – attempting to recruit extensively and potentially overcompensate employees in an effort to form those exceptional teams. However, this isn’t always the case.
Colantonio could merely guess at the reasons behind Arkane Austin’s closure, yet he can empathize with the predicament Microsoft found itself in.
It seems like the choice boiled down to, “Something had to be trimmed.” Was this move made to satisfy shareholders or the stock exchange? They operate on a distinct field.
But regardless of the reason, Colantonio makes his stance on the issue clear. He flatly disagrees with the decision, with PCGamer quoting him as calling it a “dumb move”.
In my gaming opinion, I firmly believe that the choice to eliminate Arkane Austin wasn’t exactly the right move.
Loved by Fans, Prey to Microsoft
Microsoft has faced criticism lately due to shutting down several studios they had previously acquired. The studio responsible for creating Hi-Fi Rush, Tango Gameworks, is one of those affected. Therefore, it becomes challenging to attribute “subpar game releases” as the main reason for these closures.
From a fan’s perspective, given the way Hi-Fi Rush seems to be receiving Microsoft’s full attention, it’s not hard to imagine that they might shut things down for Redfall, regardless of its quality.
It’s likely that Arkane Lyon continues to operate within the gaming industry, but it wouldn’t be unusual for the team in Austin to feel uncertain due to their studio closure.
A more palatable explanation for unpleasant situations might exist, but what we often get is “it’s about the money” – a vague and ubiquitous concept that leaves us uneasy. This appears to be the recipe for an uncomfortable environment.
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2024-10-30 20:38