- Xbox could cancel Marvel’s Blade even if it is reportedly near completion to avoid a Wolverine situation.
- Blade may hurt Xbox if it fails to recoup costs due to the costly Marvel license.
- Microsoft may be deciding whether further investment is worth it given the risks.
Arkane Lyon’s future looks uncertain as the threat of closure or major layoffs looms over the legendary team. Xbox is actively exploring options to find external buyers or spin off the studio until November 13th, as the deadline to prevent immediate closure will end.
A new report reveals Xbox could still cancel Marvel’s Blade even if it is reportedly near completion. The company may choose to shut down the project for good to avoid a ‘Wolverine situation.’
Why it matters: Xbox fears that Marvel’s Blade may fail to meet sales expectations. The game simply might not be good enough to recoup its allegedly insane budget, especially when the costs of Marvel licensing are considered.
This tidbit comes from reliable Xbox insider Jez Corden from the XB2 podcast, who claims Marvel’s Blade could harm Xbox if it isn’t cancelled. A costly Marvel game underperforming relative to expectations could be devastating, so its existence is risky at the moment.
However, the bigger concern has to do with simple mathematics. Jez adds that it would have to sell substantially more copies to recoup its budget and costs of Marvel licensing fees before Microsoft sees any meaningful returns.
We don’t know for sure what constitutes being nearly complete right. The game might not be very good, you know. Maybe they want to avoid a Wolverine situation.
-Xbox Insider, Jez Corden.
So, the company might be looking to make its balance sheet look better by a certain date and asking questions like, ‘Will Blade sell enough to justify the remaining investment after Marvel’s share is taken out?’
And the Marvel license, from what I’ve told, batters your margins quite significantly.
Jez also emphasizes that nobody outside of Microsoft knows about the internal expectations for Marvel’s Blade, its quality, budget, or projected sales yet.
On the other hand, Microsoft could be forced to keep Arkane Lyon going if the game and the team cost less than shutting the studio down, thanks to the strict French labor laws.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devotedly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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