Arkane Lyon Could Close Unless It Finds a Buyer by December 13

Arkane Lyon, the studio behind Dishonored, Deathloop, and the upcoming Marvel's Blade, could face closure, according to a recent report from the French newspaper Le Monde, unless it finds a new buyer by mid-December.

The studio is a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, which operates under the Xbox division. During July wave of Xbox's layoffs, the studio began "required consultation with its Works Council to review potential strategic options." Four studios, Compulsion Games (South of Midnight), Ninja Theory (Hellblade), Undead Labs (State of Decay), and Double Fine (Psychonauts), were given new management, and Ninja Theory now faces closure. Because of stricter French law requirements, Arkane Lyon didn't undergo such significant changes. Under the "Florange Law," companies and groups with at least 1,000 employees that intend to close down a site have the obligation to search for a buyer.

Originally, the deadline for the consultation process and search for a buyer was set for November 13; however, the date was under negotiation and subject to change. A recent PC Gamer report states that the consultation period has been extended by a month, moving the deadline to December 13.

"We have extended the consultation period by one additional month as we explore options, including finding a partner to support the studio through the development work still ahead," a Microsoft representative said. "This is a defined extension, and we remain committed to keeping the Works Council informed throughout the process."

According to the representative, the documents about Arkane's possible closure if no buyer is found "are part of the required consultation process and do not represent a final decision."