Bethesda and ZeniMax Studio Changes: Arkane, Alpha Dog, Tango, and Roundhouse Updates

Today I’m sharing changes we’re making across our Bethesda and ZeniMax teams. These changes are happening because we want to prioritize game titles with large areas of influence, and further invest in Bethesda’s portfolio of great games and beloved worlds that you have nurtured over many decades.

Betting on these franchises and investing to build new ones requires us to look across the industry to identify the best opportunities for success. This reprioritization of games and resources means that a few teams will be merged with others, and that some of our colleagues will leave us.

Here are the changes that will take effect:

Arkane Austin – This studio will be closed, and some of the team will join other studios to work on projects throughout Bethesda. Arkane Austin has a history of creating impactful and innovative games, a pedigree that everyone should be proud of. Redfall’s previous update is the last one as we finish development of the game. The game and its servers will remain online for players to enjoy, and we will offer great deals to players who purchased the Hero DLC.

Alpha Dog Studios – This studio will also be closed. We appreciate the team’s creativity in bringing Doom to new players. Mighty Doom will be discontinued on August 7th, and we will be turning off the ability for players to make in-game purchases.

Tango games – Tango Gameworks will also close. We are grateful for their contributions to Bethesda and players around the world. Hi-Fi Rush will continue to be available to players on the platforms it is on today.

Round house games – The team at Roundhouse Games will join forces with ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS). Roundhouse has played a key role in many of our recent game launches, and folding it into ZOS to work on The Elder Scrolls Online means we can do even more to build the world that millions of players call home.

With this consolidation of our Bethesda studio teams, allowing us to invest more deeply in our new portfolio of games and IP, a small number of responsibilities across Bethesda’s publishing and corporate teams will also be cut.

Those affected will be contacted today and we ask that you treat your departing colleagues with respect and compassion. We will provide our full support to those affected today and in the transition beyond, including severance pay as determined by local laws.

These changes are not a reflection of the creativity and skill of the talented people at these studios, or the risks they took to try new things. I recognize that these changes are also frustrating for the various support teams across ZeniMax and Bethesda that bring our games to market. We are making these difficult decisions to create the ability to increase investment in other parts of our portfolio and focus on our priority games.

Bethesda remains one of the main pillars of Xbox with a strong portfolio of amazing games and a thriving community. Looking to the future, there is a good selection of games on the horizon. In 2024 alone, we have Starfield Shattered Space, Fallout 76 Skyline Valley, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, and The Elder Scrolls Online’s Golden Road. As we align our plans and resources to position ourselves for success in this complex and changing industry, our teams across Arkane Lyon, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, MachineGames, ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda Publishing and corporate team are well positioned to build new IP, explore new game concepts and expand on our existing franchises.
– Matthew