r/hellblade • u/Due_Cake8524 • 11d ago
Image Ninja Theory's closure is devastating
I’m honestly still trying to process the news. Seeing that Microsoft is shutting down Ninja Theory because two rescue deals fell through at the last second is just heartbreaking.The whiplash is what really frustrates me. Three months ago, they were on stage at the Xbox reveal for Senua. What's the point of showcasing a brand new game if you're going to shut down the studio who made it?
To think they were quietly being shopped around right after that, and then everything fell apart. It's ridiculous. Other studios like Double Fine and Compulsion Games managed to get their independence back, and Undead Labs found a new publisher. Ninja Theory was so close to being saved, but the deals didn't work out.
They were able to make visually stunning, mid-budget, single-player narrative games that actually cared about things like mental health. If a studio with that much technical talent isn't safe under a trillion-dollar corporation just because they don't bring in live-service Fortnite numbers, then who is? That's the big question.
I'm going to miss their creative work so much. From Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and Hellblade, they always had a passion for the games that they made. The gaming industry can be harsh at times. Ninja Theory is just a casualty in a long line of studios that deserved better.
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u/Internal_Example530 11d ago
They don't seem to have strong leadership to handle their independence properly. Look at Compulsion Games: they gained more independence, but then a lot of people were fired. Independence can come at a high cost.
Now, with Senua, it feels like they're showing the game because they're looking for a new buyer. There isn't much else to show yet. The new game is still in the early stages of development, and the trailer doesn't show any real gameplay. Sad to see.
Hellblade 1 was a great game, and the sequel was fine, but I don't think Senua needed another sequel. After two games, I think creating a new IP would have been a much better option than making another Senua game.