Sarah Bond dodges questions on Xbox studio closures

At the Bloomberg Technology Summit, Sarah Bond, President of Xbox, faced questions from Dina Bass about the recent closure of four Xbox studios: Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog, and Roundhouse Studios. Bond emphasized the difficulty of such decisions, linking them to broader industry trends and the need to maintain a healthy business long-term. She stressed the focus on supporting employees through this transition.

Matt Booty's email explained the closures as part of a strategic realignment within Bethesda and ZeniMax, aimed at prioritizing high-impact titles and investing in Bethesda's portfolio. He noted that while some studio members would join other teams, the overall plan includes increasing investment in priority games and new IPs, despite the tough decisions and role eliminations involved.