"Even knowing how it ends, I'd do it again": Hellblade studio Ninja Theory appears to initiate the layoff process
Ninja Theory staff face redundancy as Microsoft moves to close the studio, leaving an unfinished Senua game and Hellblade's future uncertain.
Background: Microsoft's Decision to Shut Down the Hellblade Studio
Microsoft recently revealed that Ninja Theory, the Cambridge-based studio behind the Hellblade series, would be facing closure. Two potential deals to buy the studio after its split from Xbox have fallen through, leaving no viable path forward for the developer under Microsoft's ownership. The studio now appears to be in the process of informing staff that their roles are at risk of being eliminated.
The Wave of Redundancy Notices
Former Game Developer journalist Chris Kerr first spotted the pattern: a growing number of Ninja Theory developers have taken to LinkedIn to announce they are at risk of redundancy or are actively seeking new opportunities.
Alessio Mellina, who spent nearly 12 years at the studio, wrote: "After almost 12 years at Ninja Theory, my role here is now at risk of redundancy. I'm now on the lookout for new opportunities. As the only Technical Sound Designer here at Ninja, I've been the owner of most of our dynamic audio systems on recent projects, with a strong focus on UE Blueprint scripting and Wwise integration."
Xoe Suvari, a performance capture technician, posted a farewell: "Well, so ends my time at Ninja Theory. It's taken me a while to decide what to say about working here, and I still have to borrow the words of a friend and fellow Ninja: Even if I knew how it would end, I would do it again."
The Unfinished Project: A Senua Game Left in Limbo
Gameplay programmer Katrin Mair expressed grief not only for her own departure but for the game the studio had been building. "It's incredibly sad knowing that we won't get to finish what we were working on," she wrote. "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."
The project Mair referenced appears to be a new entry in the Senua saga—the franchise that began with Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (2017) and continued with Senua's Saga: Hellblade II (2024). The fate of this in-development title has not been formally confirmed by Microsoft or Ninja Theory.
Spoiler warning: The following paragraph discusses plot elements from the Hellblade series. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice follows its protagonist through a brutal Viking underworld journey, while Senua's Saga: Hellblade II continues her story in Iceland. Any unfinished third chapter would leave that narrative arc unresolved.
Other Confirmed Departures
Additional staff who posted about redundancies or new job searches last week include:
- Loong-Wei Ding, technical director
- Matteo Tummino, sound designer
- Daniele Galante, sound designer
- Matt Le-Fevre, senior technical artist
- Pietro Berto, character artist
The steady drip of confirmations suggests staff are being informed in waves—or that some simply took the weekend to process the news before going public. Either way, the scale of the departures points to a full studio shutdown rather than a partial restructuring.
What This Means for the Industry and Players
Ninja Theory was founded in 2000 and built a reputation for narrative-driven action games, including Heavenly Sword (2007), DmC: Devil May Cry (2013), and the Hellblade series. Microsoft acquired the studio in 2018 as part of its expanded first-party portfolio.
The closure—if confirmed as a full shutdown—would mark another instance of Microsoft shuttering a studio it once touted as a creative asset. For players, it means the likely end of the Senua franchise, at least under its original creators. For developers, it adds to a growing list of UK-based studios hit by layoffs and closures in recent years.
Current Status
As of now, Microsoft has not issued a formal statement confirming the total closure of Ninja Theory, nor has it clarified the status of the unannounced Senua project. Staff continue to post publicly about their situations. The studio's fate appears sealed, but the final timeline and any potential sale of its intellectual property remain unconfirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ninja Theory closing?
The article says Microsoft revealed the studio would face closure after two potential buyout deals fell through, and staff are being told their roles are at risk, but Microsoft has not formally confirmed a total shutdown.
Has Microsoft officially confirmed the closure?
No. As of the article, Microsoft has not issued a formal statement confirming the total closure of Ninja Theory and has not clarified the status of the unannounced Senua project.
What happened to the next Senua game?
The in-development project appears to be a new entry in the Senua saga, but its fate has not been formally confirmed; a programmer said the team will not get to finish what they were working on.
Will Hellblade or Senua get a release date, platforms, price, or Chinese localization?
The article does not provide any release date, platforms, price, or localization details; it only says the project is unannounced and its status remains unconfirmed.
Will the Senua franchise continue?
The article says a confirmed full shutdown would likely mean the end of the Senua franchise at least under its original creators, and any potential sale of the intellectual property remains unconfirmed.
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