Microsoft closing four Bethesda studios

[CurrySpirals]

“Microsoft has now announced it is shutting down four Bethesda studios. Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios are all closing, with employees either being laid off or moved to work on other projects within Bethesda.”

Microsoft appears to be making moves to consolidate Bethesda to focus on its blockbuster franchises. TES, Fallout, and maybe Starfield. Probably mostly Fallout at this time, if I had to guess. Best of luck to those who are losing their jobs.

Do we think this will be a positive change to help refocus Bethesda, or no?

https://www.trueachievements.com/news/xbox-bethesda-studios-closing-arkane-tango

[CurrySpirals]

Messaggio originale di AdahnGorion:

Messaggio originale di CurrySpirals:

“Microsoft has now announced it is shutting down four Bethesda studios. Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios are all closing, with employees either being laid off or moved to work on other projects within Bethesda.”

Microsoft appears to be making moves to consolidate Bethesda to focus on its blockbuster franchises. TES, Fallout, and maybe Starfield. Probably mostly Fallout at this time, if I had to guess. Best of luck to those who are losing their jobs.

Do we think this will be a positive change to help refocus Bethesda, or no?

https://www.trueachievements.com/news/xbox-bethesda-studios-closing-arkane-tango

Well obviously.
Basically Microsoft is going to go Disney mode (they have with other studios they bought)

Expect many new "casual" titles from the big franchises and with lots of monetization options.
When Microsoft got ZeniMAX, they already started to make huge changes and they have gradually cleaned up house. That is why Jill Braff is the head of ZeniMAX next (and Bethesda)

Her focus is to change the ways games are released. Here are some of her pillars.

1. Games should release faster (shorter development phase)
2. Games should cater more to female audience
3. Games should focus more on social interaction and monetization (customacible shipping)
4. Games need to be inclusive and respectful, with a link to reality (the US)
5. Mobile games need to be more in focus

Have fun.

I’d put a big emphasis on #1 there, I’m guessing Microsoft expects a big Bethesda game at least once every 3 years now. TES, Fallout, possibly Starfield.

[Sedgendary]

Messaggio originale di CurrySpirals:

Messaggio originale di Vlad 254:

Some staff will move to BGS so in that respect a tiny impact, some are moving specifically to Elder Scrolls Online. Microsoft also says the consolidation of these Bethesda studios is so Xbox "can invest more deeply in our portfolio of games and new IP."

Meh, all minor stuff in the big scheme of things but a business decision.

I have seen a lot of articles the last few weeks about Microsoft wanting to speed up Bethesda development, get a new Fallout game done sooner rather than later. Todd Howard has publicly made similar comments. I’m wondering if this is the first step.

It’s unclear how many people are losing jobs vs moving to another teams, but I see this as a sign Microsoft is trying to get Bethesda focused on “core” properties.

Not a surprise Microsoft want to speed up development at Bethesda, 13 years since the last Elder Scrolls mainline and 10 years since the last mainline Fallout with neither having a game scheduled anytime soon

[Ultrabot]

Maybe. Depends if they are given not just the budget, but the time to do the work and be creative. SF had a nasty crunch, I think we can all see that. Whole areas of cities cut back and a general feel of 'get it out the door, we need to raise $ for gamepass in q whatever'
it did that, and it did well on xbox, but many who paid full price feel shortchanged -- they've come to expect better from this studio, bugs are one thing but lost potential is another.

MS would be wise to support this title to what it could be, Brand image matters.

[Mick Savage]

Messaggio originale di CurrySpirals:

Messaggio originale di AdahnGorion:

Well obviously.
Basically Microsoft is going to go Disney mode (they have with other studios they bought)

Expect many new "casual" titles from the big franchises and with lots of monetization options.
When Microsoft got ZeniMAX, they already started to make huge changes and they have gradually cleaned up house. That is why Jill Braff is the head of ZeniMAX next (and Bethesda)

Her focus is to change the ways games are released. Here are some of her pillars.

1. Games should release faster (shorter development phase)
2. Games should cater more to female audience
3. Games should focus more on social interaction and monetization (customacible shipping)
4. Games need to be inclusive and respectful, with a link to reality (the US)
5. Mobile games need to be more in focus

Have fun.

I’d put a big emphasis on #1 there, I’m guessing Microsoft expects a big Bethesda game at least once every 3 years now. TES, Fallout, possibly Starfield.

But they won't be Beth anymore.
Which now that I think on that more it's probably a good thing lol

[Call Sign: Raven]

I can't say whether or not Bethesda is unfocused or not. Nobody knows save for their internal staff, tbh

[CurrySpirals]

Messaggio originale di Mick Salvage:

Messaggio originale di CurrySpirals:

I’d put a big emphasis on #1 there, I’m guessing Microsoft expects a big Bethesda game at least once every 3 years now. TES, Fallout, possibly Starfield.

But they won't be Beth anymore.
Which now that I think on that more it's probably a good thing lol

Could be, they do seem like they could use a shake up. I think Starfield is fine, had potential, but came off a bit dull overall. It wasn’t a home run, they barely managed to leg out a double.

[patrick68794]

Messaggio originale di Mick Salvage:

Messaggio originale di Darth Revan:

none of those studios had anything to do with starfield or bethesda game studios

That's not what I said lol

They knew Beth was about to be completely dissolved into MS, this project was their last and they knew it, just a cash grab nothing more.

Now it's up to the modders because I have zero faith they will fix anything before they're gone for good into the loving MS family haha

Lol BGS isn't going anywhere. You'll continue to have a place to troll here and a new one when TES VI releases in a few years.

[EricHVela]

Microsoft closing four studios, none of which are Bethesda

Fixed the title.

[AdahnGorion]

Messaggio originale di EricHVela:

Microsoft closing four studios, none of which are Bethesda

Fixed the title.

The correct terminology would be.

Microsoft restructure Xbox Game Studio´s ZeniMAX. (Bethesda is a subsidiary of ZeniMAX, whom is a subsidiary of Xbox Game studios, whom are a division under Microsoft.

[Ultrabot]

Messaggio originale di AdahnGorion:

Messaggio originale di CurrySpirals:

I’d put a big emphasis on #1 there, I’m guessing Microsoft expects a big Bethesda game at least once every 3 years now. TES, Fallout, possibly Starfield.

Don´t neclect the other points.
Wanna see some visions Jill had before Microsoft.. look here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6buKSQR_s8U

She was put on the top to further a new direction and an untapped potential with a certain demographic.

I had a read of the transcript. Seems like she's talking about women being a potential new market, and then speaking about games/devices which could be addictive like an arcade with actual prizes. The devices themselves can be addictive and behaviour altering, especially with children -- but certainly not limited to them with social media and everything else. I sound like some grandpa probably but everyone walking around glued to a screen is kinda weird.

I hope she's not some kind of 'creative director' because it was some of the most soulless crap I've ever read, but hey I guess that's their world. I don't plan on playing any arcade stuff on my phone, most of the time I don't even know where it is when I'm at home.

[CurrySpirals]

Messaggio originale di EricHVela:

Microsoft closing four studios, none of which are Bethesda

Fixed the title.

The title of the article is referring to Bethesda Softworks/Zenimax, the publishing arm. Not Bethesda Game Studios, the developer. It’s amazing this still confuses people.

[TsampaD]

Messaggio originale di CurrySpirals:

“Microsoft has now announced it is shutting down four Bethesda studios. Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios are all closing, with employees either being laid off or moved to work on other projects within Bethesda.”

Microsoft appears to be making moves to consolidate Bethesda to focus on its blockbuster franchises. TES, Fallout, and maybe Starfield. Probably mostly Fallout at this time, if I had to guess. Best of luck to those who are losing their jobs.

Do we think this will be a positive change to help refocus Bethesda, or no?

https://www.trueachievements.com/news/xbox-bethesda-studios-closing-arkane-tango

No, it's not the best thing for people to lose their jobs.
it's just a shame and sad.


on the other hand, the community that buys game titles that are expensive and not in good condition is not the best and leads us to situations that we don't want to have in a game title.

so what is preferable after all? nobody wants to lose their job and nobody wants to buy something that is not ready.


in which case I would tell them to just focus on a good job.

[Ultrabot]

Messaggio originale di AdahnGorion:

She is the head of ZeniMAX (and thus Bethesda) She is the person Todd Howard reports to directly.

Fair enough. Fraid I'm not up to date on old todd, though some people round here talk about him a fair bit. I'm obviously missing the point, so why not just say what's on your mind.
Typically the head of anything is like this -- what is it that will happen?


edit: -- seems a bit of a jump, doesn't it?

[CurrySpirals]

Messaggio originale di AdahnGorion:

Messaggio originale di Ultrabot:

I had a read of the transcript. Seems like she's talking about women being a potential new market, and then speaking about games/devices which could be addictive like an arcade with actual prizes. The devices themselves can be addictive and behaviour altering, especially with children -- but certainly not limited to them with social media and everything else. I sound like some grandpa probably but everyone walking around glued to a screen is kinda weird.

I hope she's not some kind of 'creative director' because it was some of the most soulless crap I've ever read, but hey I guess that's their world. I don't plan on playing any arcade stuff on my phone, most of the time I don't even know where it is when I'm at home.

She is the head of ZeniMAX (and thus Bethesda) She is the person Todd Howard reports to directly.

She does report to Xbox Studio Head Matt Booty though who oversees ZeniMax and a few others. These studio closers were announced by Booty. And he reports to Xbox head Phil Spencer, who reports to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. So a few layers removed from just being able to do whatever she wants.

[Ultrabot]

yeah, but that's not unexpected behaviour in that world. I still don't see them tasking BGS itself with smaller 'arcade' products and the like, but I suppose anything is possible.
I wouldn't trust MS, and they for sure pushed the launch and were probably behind some other additions. If they do that crap under the B name, they'll just task a studio they bought and renamed. We're talking about sub of sub of sub into infinity, but it is MS gaming (I think that's the new name) and BGS is still a studio under it. It gets confusing but the ones they closed were all ones they bought and gave the name to (I think, feel free to fact check)