By Paula Beaton Following Xbox’s second wave of redundancies last month, Ninja Theory layoffs have commenced at the studio behind the Hellblade series.
As spotted this afternoon by journalist Chris Kerr and shared on Bluesky, Ninja Theory has now started laying off employees, following a statement last month by Xbox COO Matt Booty surrounding the studio’s future:
“Unfortunately, two separate agreements for Ninja Theory fell through. We will now begin consultation with employees on a proposed closure while continuing to explore other paths forward.”
The agreements Booty spoke of refer to proposals to transfer ownership of Ninja Theory to another company — a deal that never manifested.
Today, some studio employees posted on LinkedIn that they were facing redundancy or had already lost their jobs. Ninja Theory layoffs included a technical director, gameplay programmer, character and technical artists, and other roles across the business.
Daniel Galante, principle sound designer posted on LinkedIn with an anecdote about the first Hellblade scene they worked on:
Gameplay programmer Katrin Mair shared their thoughts on the Ninja Theory layoffs:
“After four years, it’s hard to put into words how much this place and the people in it have meant to me. I’ve learned an incredible amount, grown so much as a programmer, and had the chance to work with some genuinely brilliant people.
What I’ll remember most is how much people cared. About the work, about the details, and about each other. I feel very lucky that this was the place where I got to start my career and grow into the programmer I am today.
It’s incredibly sad knowing that we won’t get to finish what we were working on. So much care, talent and effort went into it, and I really wish we’d had the chance to see what it could have become.”
During Xbox’s second round of layoffs, 268 employees lost their jobs. Earlier in the year around 1,600 staff were laid off.
Questions surround the future of Senua, the third game in the Hellblade series. The game was scheduled for release in 2027 but hasn’t yet been officially confirmed. With these layoffs and the possible closure of the studio, we’ll need to wait for any news.