Microsoft Buys Bethesda: EVERY Studio Xbox Now Owns

3. Arkane Studios

Dishonored Time Travel
Bethesda

Notable Games: Dishonored series, Prey (2017)

A French-based studio founded in 1999 by EA alumni, with their biggest title (Half-Life spin-off Return to Ravenholm), being an infamously canceled one, Arkane Studios had to wait a long time to get their big break.

Then Bethesda approached them to create a stealth-game based in feudal Japan. This spun off into the concept of Dishonored, the innovative and mechanically rich action/stealth game that released in 2012. It was a rare case of a game's promise of giving the player the choice to 'approach a situation in any way you want' actually lived up to its wealthy potential.

During the game's development ZeniMax bought them up, and it has been a productive and colorful relationship since. Dishonored 2 was a slick and polished sequel, whilst the Prey reboot took Arkane's unique gameplay style and placed it in a sci-fi/horror setting.

Their latest, Deathloop, takes their individual approach but mashes it into an enticing package of Grindhouse action with off-kilter time travel. Weirdly enough, it is a timed PS5 console exclusive... but who knows how long that agreement will last now?

In this post: 
Bethesda Xbox
 
Posted On: 
Contributor

is a working dad by day and a determined gamer by night. He’s paid his dues in both the gaming and film industries, and this year his first feature film as screenwriter, the Polish slasher flick "13 Days Till Summer", played at Fantastic Fest and Sitges Film Festival.