Hellblade developers face layoffs as Senua’s future grows increasingly uncertain

Several developers at Ninja Theory, the studio behind the Hellblade series, have announced that they have lost their jobs or are facing layoffs. The situation follows Microsoft’s announcement last month of another round of cuts, along with confirmation that it had been unable to find a way to keep the studio in its current form or make it independent.

Another 268 people lost their jobs in the second round of cuts as part of Xbox’s restructuring, following an earlier round that affected around 1,600 employees. Xbox COO Matt Booty also said that two separate attempts to reach an agreement about Ninja Theory’s future had fallen through. Microsoft has therefore begun consulting employees about a possible studio closure while also looking for other options.

The results of those consultations are now beginning to emerge. On LinkedIn, several developers have confirmed that their positions are at risk or that they are leaving the studio, including technical sound designer Alessio Mellina, programmer Katrin Mair, technical director Loong-Wei Ding, sound designer Matteo Tummino, senior technical artist Matt Le-Fevre and character artist Pietro Berto. Several other team members have also publicly confirmed their situation.

In her post, Mair said goodbye to the studio after four years. She said Ninja Theory had helped her grow significantly as a programmer and praised the people who, in her view, put a great deal of effort into their work. She also expressed disappointment that the team would not be able to finish the project it had been working on.

The biggest question now is the future of Senua, the third entry in the Hellblade series. The game was announced in June at the Xbox Games Showcase, with a planned release in 2027. Microsoft has yet to officially announce its fate, but given the current situation at Ninja Theory, its future is increasingly uncertain.

Reports had previously suggested that Microsoft was looking for a buyer for Ninja Theory, and that the announcement of Senua was also intended to attract potential suitors. However, according to available information, the studio was not sold. Microsoft is continuing its consultations, with a Ninja Theory closure remaining one possible outcome.