Ubisoft Bids for Arkane Studios Amid Microsoft Divestment
Microsoft is weighing sales of several Xbox-owned studios, including the Dishonored developer, as part of a restructuring effort.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in eSports
Ubisoft and at least two other gaming companies have submitted bids to acquire Arkane Studios, the French developer behind Dishonored. Microsoft earmarked Arkane for divestment earlier this year and has also considered selling it to its management team, though no agreement has been reached.
Why it matters
Arkane is one of five studios Microsoft has earmarked for divestment as it restructures its Xbox business. The outcome could determine who controls a studio developing Marvel's Blade, a title announced in 2023.
At least three companies, including Ubisoft, have bid for Arkane Studios, one of five studios Microsoft earmarked for divestment. The winning bidder and sale terms have not been announced, and no agreement has been reached.
The players
Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a French video game publisher and developer known for franchises such as Assassin's Creed and Far Cry, and it is one of the bidders for Arkane Studios.
Microsoft
Microsoft is the American technology company that owns Xbox and Bethesda, and it is divesting Arkane Studios as part of a wider restructuring of its gaming division.
The details
Ubisoft submitted a bid alongside at least two other gaming companies, while Microsoft has also considered selling Arkane to its management team. Arkane, based in France, is developing Marvel's Blade, and any deal would likely allow that project to continue uninterrupted.
Timeline
Earlier in 2026: Microsoft earmarked Arkane Studios for divestment as part of a restructuring effort.
November 3, 2026: Reports of multiple bids for Arkane were published.
Season Trajectory
Microsoft's decision to divest five Xbox-owned studios, including Arkane, marks a notable retreat from its earlier pattern of expanding its first-party studio portfolio. Whether Ubisoft or another buyer ultimately acquires Arkane will shape which publishers control the team behind Marvel's Blade.
Players of Dishonored and anticipants of Marvel's Blade may see their studio's ownership change, though the extraction does not confirm any change to release timing. The outcome of the bidding will determine which company funds and publishes the game.
The takeaway
Ownership changes at a single studio can reshape a major franchise's future, so the identity of Arkane's eventual owner is worth watching. Readers following Marvel's Blade should track announcements from Microsoft and any winning bidder.
Further reading
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