To rejoice the launch of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Ninja Idea’s Studio Head Dom Matthews has shared a thanks message to followers. Sadly, as we’re within the midst of unprecedented layoffs and closures inside the trade, followers are involved that this was extra of a farewell message from Ninja Idea.
“From the very starting of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 we’ve had you in thoughts and I actually hope that while you play the 2nd chapter of Senua’s story, you will see that acquainted connection as soon as once more,” Ninja Idea’s Studio Head Dom Matthew stated in a brand new submit on X (previously Twitter).
However because of the submit’s black background, white textual content, and purple border, followers have been reminded of the numerous different apologies and closure bulletins that have been eerily comparable in model. “By no means have I learn one thing that on its floor ought to be pleasure for a studio’s recreation launch sound like their final phrases as a substitute,” online game journalist James stated on X.
James echoed the feelings of many different customers on the platform, as each Pat and XeroSP referred to the submit as an “obituary” for Ninja Idea. Others, akin to Detective Seeds, stated the message felt extra like a goodbye. They then clarified that whereas it won’t essentially be a goodbye from Ninja Idea, the somber tone might point out that is the ultimate chapter for Senua.
Is This A Secret Goodbye From Ninja Idea?
Whereas there is a clear concern from followers on social media, this isn’t a goodbye from Ninja Idea. At the very least, that is in response to Home windows Central, who just lately addressed fan’s issues by claiming that Ninja Idea’s subsequent recreation “has already been greenlit.” The publication then went on to state that there are “no plans in anyway to shut the studio any time quickly.”
Assuming that Home windows Central’s report is correct, this may imply that Ninja Idea is at the moment engaged on two titles. Again in 2020, the studio launched the primary teaser trailer for Mission: MARA, an upcoming experimental title that can intention to discover new methods of storytelling.
“Mission: MARA might be a real-world and grounded illustration of psychological terror, based mostly on actual lived expertise accounts and in-depth analysis with the intention of recreating the horrors of the thoughts as precisely and realistically as attainable,” Ninja Idea stated within the teaser video’s description.
Ought to You Be Involved Anyway?
So, what’s all of the fuss about, and do you have to nonetheless be involved for Ninja Idea’s future anyway?
As I discussed beforehand, there was an inflow of layoffs and closures inside the online game trade just lately. The latest bombshell dropped on followers was that Tango Gameworks, the studio behind hits akin to Ghostwire: Tokyo, The Evil Inside, and, most just lately, Hello-Fi Rush, was being shut down.
Regardless of Hello-Fi Rush being critically acclaimed and bagging a number of awards, it wasn’t sufficient to stop the closure of its growth studio.
This additionally is not the primary studio closure or heavy layoffs which have come beneath Microsoft. Again in January, 343 Industries, the event studio behind Halo: Infinite, was compelled to put off 95 members of employees. This similar spherical of layoffs additionally affected Bethesda, which most just lately shipped Starfield late final yr. (through Bloomberg)
So whereas Ninja Idea appears protected for now, there’s simply no approach to know when layoffs or, god forbid, an entire studio closure might hit. Having new video games in growth hasn’t stopped corporations from closing studios previously, so why would it not be any completely different for Ninja Idea?
