Marvel's Blade developer Arkane Lyon has another month to pursue a rescue, with Microsoft extending its consultation period from November into December. The studio's 217 jobs remain at risk, and the extra time does not amount to a deal securing its future.
Microsoft confirmed the extension to PC Gamer in its October 23 report, following union efforts to prolong negotiations.
“We have extended the consultation period by one additional month as we explore options, including finding a partner to support the studio through the development work still ahead,” a Microsoft representative told the outlet.
The previous deadline was November 13, as covered in our earlier report on Arkane Lyon's rescue talks. The extension moves that window into December, but Microsoft described it as a “defined extension” and said it would keep the Works Council informed throughout the process.
Closure is still a possibility. Le Monde's reporting, cited by PC Gamer, described documents referring to the permanent cessation of the company's activities and the dismissal of all employees for economic reasons. Microsoft's representative said those filings “are part of the required consultation process and do not represent a final decision.”
Blade's development timetable remains uncertain
The search for a partner includes supporting the work still needed on Marvel's Blade. PC Gamer reports that sources close to the studio say development still has years to go. That is not an official release timetable, and the consultation extension offers no confirmed launch date or guarantee the game will reach release.
Marvel announced Blade on December 7, 2023 as a mature, single-player, third-person game from the team behind Deathloop and Dishonored. Its original story takes the Daywalker into a quarantined part of Paris, where vampires force residents to shelter indoors at night. Marvel said development had just begun at the time of that announcement.