On May 7, 2024, Microsoft announced three Bethesda studio closures and a separate team integration: Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks and Alpha Dog Games were slated to close, while Roundhouse Studios’ team was to join ZeniMax Online Studios. Tango made Hi-Fi Rush; Arkane Austin worked on Prey and Redfall and co-developed the first Dishonored.
Which Xbox studios were closing?
Microsoft’s May 7, 2024 announcement covered four organizations within Bethesda, which Microsoft owns through ZeniMax Media. The outcomes were not all the same:
| Studio or team | Announced outcome | Associated games or work |
|---|---|---|
| Arkane Austin | Slated to close | Redfall, Prey; co-developed the original Dishonored |
| Tango Gameworks | Slated to close | Hi-Fi Rush |
| Alpha Dog Games | Slated to close | Mighty Doom |
| Roundhouse Studios | Team to join ZeniMax Online Studios | Support work on recent launches; reporting said the team would work on The Elder Scrolls Online |
The announced distinction matters: Roundhouse’s team was being integrated into another studio, not described as one of the three teams slated to close. The changes were reported from an employee email by Matt Booty, Microsoft Gaming’s president of game content and studios. Contemporary coverage characterized Microsoft’s explanation as a “reprioritization of titles and resources.” The Verge’s May 7, 2024 report and IGN’s coverage describe the announced actions and attribution.
What happened to Tango Gameworks and Hi-Fi Rush?
Tango Gameworks was among the studios slated to close. The studio developed Hi-Fi Rush, a rhythm-based action game in which combat and the world sync with music. Xbox Wire’s October 2023 oral history identifies Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC as platforms for the game; that is historical platform information, not confirmation of current availability in every region or of a physical edition. Xbox Wire’s oral history also recounts that Tango developed the game in secret for nearly five years.
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In that interview, game director John Johanas said the response showed Tango was “not just a studio that can only make horror games.” He also said trying new things could make the team “better as developers.” Those comments reflect the studio’s creative range; they do not establish the commercial performance or sales of Hi-Fi Rush.
Did Arkane Austin make Dishonored?
Arkane Austin was associated with Prey and Redfall, and it co-developed the original Dishonored. That credit should not be expanded into a claim that Arkane Austin alone made the entire Dishonored series. The studio was slated to close in the May 2024 announcement. IGN’s report identifies the studio’s game credits and the announced closure.
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What happened to Alpha Dog Games and Mighty Doom?
Alpha Dog Games, maker of Mighty Doom, was also slated to close. A contemporary report said the decision would lead to the game’s servers shutting down on August 7, 2024. That was a reported scheduled date; it does not by itself verify the game’s service status after that date. The Verge’s report covered the announced studio changes and the reported shutdown date.
Why did Microsoft close the studios?
The reported explanation was a “reprioritization of titles and resources.” The cited announcement coverage does not establish a detailed public financial rationale, so it is not possible to responsibly attribute the closures to the sales or performance of a particular game. Player counts, where reported elsewhere, would not be equivalent to sales figures.
How did these teams become part of Xbox?
Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Bethesda’s parent company, in March 2021. In its acquisition announcement, Xbox listed Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Games and Roundhouse among the studios joining Xbox. Xbox Wire’s March 2021 announcement provides that ownership context; the 2024 changes concerned teams within Bethesda’s organization.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the 2024 announcement establish Tango’s current status?
No. The May 2024 news described the studio as slated to close, but later developments mean that announcement alone should not be treated as a complete account of Tango Gameworks’ present-day ownership, operating status or release plans. The sources cited here do not establish those current details.
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