Marvel's Blade is still in development, but Arkane Lyon faces a November 13 consultation deadline over a proposed closure that puts 217 jobs at risk. Microsoft says it is seeking a partner to help bring the game to market, leaving a route to release open despite the threat to its developer.
In a statement carried by IGN's coverage of Le Monde's October 23 report, Microsoft said it continues to explore options for Arkane through the French consultation process. It is "actively seeking a partner to support the next phase of development and enable the commercialization of the project."
The November date is not a confirmed shutdown day. Internal documents cited in the reporting put the start of a proposed closure at the end of 2026, with the process extending into the first quarter of 2027. Employees were reportedly told of Microsoft's closure plans on July 16.
Unions are seeking more time for takeover discussions. Several options are being considered, according to the report, though a union representative said negotiations over the redundancy plan were going badly. No takeover agreement is confirmed in the report.
Blade's reported progress is not a release guarantee
The same union representative described Marvel's Blade as nearing the end of production, as reported by VICE. That is an assessment from the union, not an official release announcement from Microsoft or Arkane. The reporting does not confirm the game's cancellation.
IGN also reports that, before July's layoffs, Blade had been on track for a reveal in early 2027 and a release in the fourth quarter of that year. Those were reported plans before the cuts, not a confirmed launch window players can rely on today.
Arkane Lyon is the developer behind Deathloop and Dishonored 2. Marvel's Blade was announced on December 7, 2023 as a mature, single-player, third-person game with an original story. It follows the Daywalker into a quarantined section of Paris, where vampires force residents to shelter indoors at night.