Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda spoke for itself in terms of importance. As the studio behind massively influential RPGs franchises Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda is an extremely valuable company for Microsoft to have exclusive access to. These Bethesda IPs, as well as the new Starfield IP, promise to be heavy hitters on the Xbox. However, since Microsoft technically acquired Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax Media, it now has its hands on far more developers than Bethesda itself. That includes Arkane Studios, a developer that has released a multitude of beloved games, but has yet to become a household name among gamers in the way of Bethesda.
Although Arkane Studios had a good 2021 with the release of the well-loved Deathloop, the studio remains somewhat in its sibling Bethesda's shadow, which is understandable, given Bethesda's sweeping contributions to the RPG genre. However, regardless of Arkane's overall fame, it could be a surprisingly important part of the Microsoft-Bethesda acquisition. Deathloop's success has proven Arkane's potential, and its past track record of creative hits suggest that Arkane could deliver a lot of interesting games for the Xbox in coming years. Microsoft may have struck its deal in search of Bethesda, but Arkane's potential cannot be overlooked.
Arkane Studios' Past and Present Successes
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While some of Arkane's earliest games have fallen into obscurity, the studio gained notoriety in the 2010s when it kicked off the Dishonored franchise. Both Dishonored games may have received some criticism for their narratives, these titles are fondly remembered by fans for delivering a thrilling action-adventure experience through its assassin protagonists. Years after the original games released, interest in a third Dishonored game remains high. Arkane's mind-bending FPS Prey can't be overlooked either, as it became a highly regarded release in 2017 in spite of a shaky sales performance. Both of these IPs could be highly valuable to the Xbox Series X if Arkane gets to return to them in the future.
What's more, Arkane's newer projects prove that the studio is hardly out of big ideas. The aforementioned Deathloop is an obvious example; its refreshing take on the time loop genre adds up to another excellent IP to build on with Microsoft's support. Redfall also deserves to be acknowledged. The quality of Redfall may remain to be seen, thanks to its recent delay, but Arkane can't be faulted for creativity thanks to its vampire-driven take on the Left 4 Dead multiplayer shooter model. Redfall's blend of sci-fi and fantasy results in an exciting new depiction of vampires, as well as a compelling cast of protagonists. Arkane's recent steady stream of interesting new IPs could be very helpful in expanding the range of IPs found exclusively on the Xbox.
Arkane's Potential Under Microsoft
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Bethesda's acquisition is undoubtedly a major victory for Microsoft, but Arkane Studios seems like it could be similarly impactful merely due to its versatility and creativity. Bethesda Game Studios is strongly dedicated to RPGs, but Arkane has a track record of successfully experimenting with vastly different game genres and settings. It therefore has the potential to supply a lot of creative new IPs to the Xbox Series X while potentially inventing new franchises that further increase its impact on the console, as well as Microsoft's future gaming platforms.
It's possible that Arkane will unveil influential new projects in the near future. Deathloop is thoroughly in the rearview mirror, and while Redfall will get much more development time than anticipated, it's seemingly Arkane's only game currently in the works. Arkane has juggled multiple projects before, so it only stands to reason that it could be doing so now. If fans are lucky, they might get introduced to another Xbox exclusive game from Arkane Studios sometime soon. Whether it's a revival of a classic Arkane franchise or yet another promising new IP, any new Arkane title has the potential to cement the studio's position as a surprisingly important part of Microsoft's Bethesda acquisition.