
Ninja Theory Begins Layoffs After Two Xbox Spin-Off Deals Fall Through
Ninja Theory, the Cambridge-based studio behind the critically acclaimed Hellblade series, has begun laying off staff following Microsoft's confirmation that two separate deals to spin the studio off from Xbox fell through. Employees began announcing their redundancies on social media on October 5, 2026, painting a bleak picture for a developer that had been widely celebrated for its innovative, small-team approach to triple-A game development. The layoffs appear to be the direct result of a consultation process with Xbox that followed a second wave of broader Microsoft cuts the previous week.

