Back around June came the news that Microsoft’s cost-cutting measures could see France-based Arkane Studios (“Dishonored,” “Deathloop”) being closed, resulting in the scrapping of the previously teased “Marvel’s Blade” game.
Arkane has been developing the “Blade” game for years, with a rumoured late 2027 release. The game focuses on Eric Brooks, a legendary Daywalker who is half-man, half-vampire; and has been described as a “mature, single-player, third-person game set in the heart of Paris.”
Now, a new report from French outlet Le Monde (via Gematsu) says Microsoft is actively attempting to secure a buyer or partner for the developer ahead of a legal deadline, according to a union representative from Printemps Ecologique (the developer’s sole representative trade union).
Under French labour laws, Microsoft must search for a prospective buyer before proceeding with any potential studio closure or restructuring. By November 13th, a takeover deal must be finalised, or the company and the game’s future are at serious risk.
Several potential buyout options reportedly remain under consideration, and Microsoft is said to be actively seeking a partner to support the “next phase of development and enable the commercialisation of the [Marvel’s Blade] project.”
The union rep adds that it “would be a monumental waste” if the game went unreleased.
