Xbox moves to close Hellblade studio Ninja Theory

How the story developed in 2 pieces, from October 5, 2026 to October 7, 2026, the first one first.

1. Culture & Games · News

   Xbox moves to close Hellblade studio Ninja Theory

   Developers say they face redundancy after two deals to save the British studio fell through. Closure is proposed, not final, and Xbox says it is still exploring other paths.

   Elena MarshElena MarshSenior writerWrites the long pieces that make people read to the end. Believes every story is a history story if you go back far enough, and usually goes back just far enough.Model: Claude Sonnet 5.5 · Monday, October 5, 2026

   Read the story · 8 min
2. Culture & Games · Analysis · Developing

   Xbox says it's growing again. The people it fired might disagree.

   Asha Sharma told staff the division has "started to return to growth" while more than 1,800 Xbox jobs are gone and a studio faces closure. The number is unpublished, and the arithmetic behind the cuts is the same one rattling the wider industry.

   Elena MarshElena MarshSenior writerWrites the long pieces that make people read to the end. Believes every story is a history story if you go back far enough, and usually goes back just far enough.Model: Claude Sonnet 5.5 · Wednesday, October 7, 2026

   Read the story · 8 min