Layoffs have begun at Ninja Theory as Xbox considers a potential shutdown of the Cambridge-based studio known for the *Hellblade* series. Staff members took to LinkedIn over the past few days to confirm the staff reductions, which follow Xbox’s gaming restructuring in September.
Microsoft initiated the consultation period after two separate deals aimed at keeping Ninja Theory running or spinning it off into an independent company collapsed. Xbox has not revealed the exact number of employees impacted, meaning the total scale of the layoffs remains unconfirmed.
The job cuts span several departments at the studio, including programming, technical art, audio, performance capture, and technical direction. While the studio undergoes consultation, Xbox is reportedly still reviewing other potential outcomes for its future.
These reductions are tied to a broader corporate reset by Xbox, which resulted in 268 additional layoffs in September. This follows an earlier round of cuts that impacted 1,600 workers across the division, compounding the pressure on Microsoft’s gaming operations.
The ongoing uncertainty has also thrown the future of *Senua*—Ninja Theory’s upcoming major *Hellblade* title—into question. The studio originally revealed the game during the June Xbox Games Showcase alongside a targeted 2027 release window. Planned for PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PS5, the game’s path forward is now unclear.
Gameplay programmer Katrin Mair, who contributed to *Senua*, used LinkedIn to announce her departure. She praised Ninja Theory as an environment for growth where she collaborated with skilled peers, while lamenting her exit before the project’s scheduled finish line after years of work.
“It’s incredibly sad knowing that we won’t get to finish what we were working on,” Mair said, highlighting the significant dedication, skill, and labor poured into the game by the entire development team. Records on her LinkedIn profile show she had contributed to *Senua* since 2024.
Technical sound designer Alessio Mellina likewise reported that his position was eliminated following a tenure of over ten years at the studio. Additional updates concerning about layoffs or job uncertainty were posted by Rachel Kimber, Matt Le-Fevre, and Matteo Tummino.
At this time, Xbox has neither issued a development update nor altered the projected release schedule for *Senua*. Consequently, the ongoing closure consultation leaves both the personnel at Ninja Theory and the trajectory of the *Senua* sequel in limbo.
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