The video game industry has recently faced a wave of layoffs, impacting many skilled professionals variously. In light of these events, Arkane Lyon, an Xbox-owned game development studio known for titles such as Deathloop and Dishonored, has extended a supportive hand to those affected. The studio, now also renowned for its work on the much-anticipated Marvel's Blade game, revealed last year, is opening its doors to talent in need of new opportunities.
Dinga Bakaba, the game's director at Arkane Lyon, took to social media to extend an offer of support. In a gesture of community spirit and solidarity, Bakaba indicated that Arkane Lyon is currently hiring for several roles and encouraged those affected by the layoffs to apply. Bakaba's message was especially timely given the cancellation of the latest Deus Ex game, which had been in development by Eidos Montreal. The Canadian studio was reportedly pivoting to focus on an entirely new franchise following this cancellation.
Arkane Lyon's offer isn't just lip service. As of now, the studio has advertised a total of 9 job positions on LinkedIn, located at their France studio. These openings span various specializations within the gaming industry, from a producer, level artist, senior animator to VFX artist. Such opportunities are vital for individuals seeking to stay within the gaming sector, and Arkane's open positions offer a glimmer of hope for continued career growth in an industry known for its passion-driven workforce.
Bakaba's personal message underscored the sentiment of repaying kindness, reflecting on his own experience with studio closure and expressing a desire to "return the elevator," a French idiom akin to paying it forward. This empathetic approach underlines the cooperative nature of the video game industry at its best, where mutual support can sometimes be found amidst the competitiveness.
The broader context for Arkane Lyon's gesture can be located in the recent cuts across the technology and gaming sectors, including Microsoft, which had to reduce its workforce significantly. The tech giant, which owns Xbox, Bethesda, and has intentions to acquire Activision Blizzard, has not been immune to the economic pressures causing businesses to reevaluate and consequently curtail their staffing levels.
These layoffs come at a time when anticipation for Arkane Lyon's upcoming Marvel game is high. Microsoft has teased fans with a snippet of what to expect from Blade, disclosing some intriguing concept art and revealing that the title will be powered by the Void Engine. This is the same engine used in their previous successes, indicating that the studio is building on its technical expertise.
Here's a glimpse at what the studio may have in store for us:
