Former Arkane President Lambasts Microsoft’s ‘Stupid’ Decision to Close Arkane Austin

As a gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia and sadness when I hear about the closure of Arkane Austin. Having followed their journey since the early days of Dishonored, it was always a treat to see what creative masterpieces they would churn out next.

Previously, the co-founder and president of Arkane Studios, Raphael Colantonio, has expressed his disapproval towards Microsoft’s supposedly “misguided” move to shut down Arkane Austin, as a result of the underperformance of their title, Redfall.

In 2017, Colantonio left Arkane Studios and established WolfEyes Studio, where they launched “Weird West” in 2022. At that point, Bethesda wasn’t producing the type of games that interested him.

Colantonio told PC Gamer (through IGN) that Arkane Austin was a unique team capable of creating amazing things, and they might do so again. However, he suggested their decision to close the studio wasn’t about satisfying shareholders or the stock market; instead, they were playing a different game entirely.

Colantonio admits he’s unsure as to why Microsoft decided to close down Arkane Austin, but it appears that Redfall may have been singled out for criticism. In simpler terms, “We don’t know their reasons, it’s complex. But I can say with confidence that the decision to shut down Arkane Austin was not a wise one.

The original founder of Arkane expressed difficulty in recreating a similar team like Arkane Austin, stating that it would be a challenge bordering on impossible, or at the very least, an endeavor that might take an eternity to replicate. He acknowledges that the magic this team created during their time together was truly remarkable.

When the unique talents of Harvey [Smith], Ricardo [Bare], and others harmoniously blend, it creates a special instant in both time and space that has been carefully cultivated over time. Together, they have the power to create something truly magical, as Colantonio explained.

“They didn’t seem to think, ‘We can simply rehire.’ Instead, they often attempt to hire in large numbers and overpay employees to build those exceptional teams. However, this approach doesn’t always work effectively. In my opinion, it was short-sighted, but I am just one person.

The game Redfall lastly received an update in May, featuring the highly anticipated offline play option and an enhanced neighborhood setting called ‘ReVamped Neighborhoods.’ You can now enjoy it on Xbox Series X|S and PC platforms.

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2024-11-01 16:42