What Arkane Studios does

Arkane Studios is a French video game developer founded in 1999 and headquartered in Lyon, France (Confluence district). The studio specializes in immersive simulation and narrative-driven action-adventure games, building titles with proprietary, hand-crafted level design and interconnected systems that enable multiple player approaches. Its portfolio includes the trademarked Dishonored franchise (Dishonored, Dishonored 2, Death of the Outsider), Prey, Deathloop, Redfall, and Arx Fatalis, which collectively have won hundreds of industry awards including multiple Game of the Year honors.

Arkane operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ZeniMax Media Inc., which was acquired by Microsoft in 2021 for approximately $7.5 billion, placing the studio within the Xbox portfolio. The studio generates revenue through one-time premium game licenses ($59.99–$69.99 base, plus Digital Deluxe and DLC tiers) distributed via Bethesda.net, Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and physical retail channels. Its single primary customer segment is core single-player gaming consumers, served through a horizontal segmentation approach. Arkane Lyon is currently developing Marvel's Blade in collaboration with Marvel Games (announced December 7, 2023, full production from 2024 with an approximately $109M reported budget) — the studio's first major licensed-IP engagement.

As of June–July 2026, Arkane faces an acute existential situation: multiple news reports indicate Xbox/Microsoft is considering shutting down or selling the studio as part of a major restructuring that may also affect Double Fine, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, and Undead Labs. Reports suggest Marvel's Blade may be canceled for budget overruns and a slipped release date, with layoffs potentially beginning July 6, 2026 affecting up to 1,000 Xbox employees. The company has not officially commented, and operating status is formally listed as "operating" pending corporate decisions.

Name

Arkane Studios

Legal name

Arkane Studios (operating as ZeniMax Media Inc. subsidiary)

Website

https://arkane-studios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Arkane Studios is a French video game developer founded in 1999, specializing in immersive simulation and narrative-driven action games such as Dishonored, Prey, and Deathloop. A wholly-owned subsidiary of ZeniMax Media (Microsoft), the studio is currently developing Marvel's Blade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

NAICS

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL)

Keywords

• Video game development
• Immersive simulation games
• AAA game studio
• Action-adventure games
• Single-player games

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Game Sales (Premium Titles): Arkane generates revenue through the sale of full-price premium video game titles including Dishonored, Dishonored 2, Prey, Deathloop, and Redfall. Games are sold as one-time purchases at standard retail pricing ($59.99-$69.99 for AAA titles) with additional revenue from DLC expansions and digital deluxe editions.
2. DLC and Expansion Content: Additional downloadable content expansions for core titles, including story expansions like Death of the Outsider for Dishonored, DLC packs for Dunwall City Trials, The Brigmore Witches, and The Knife Of Dunwall, as well as game updates for live titles like Redfall.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Arkane Studios is a video game development studio that creates premium single-player AAA immersive simulation and action-adventure games such as Dishonored, Dishonored 2, Prey, Deathloop, and Redfall. The studio focuses on hand-crafted, narrative-driven experiences with interconnected systems that allow players to approach objectives through multiple creative pathways. Arkane operates as a development studio within ZeniMax Media / Microsoft and publishes titles across PC (Steam, Bethesda.net) and console (Xbox, PlayStation) platforms.

Product overview

Arkane Studios is a video game development studio founded in 1999, renowned for creating action-adventure and immersive sim games with unique style and hand-crafted approach. The company's portfolio includes the award-winning Dishonored franchise (Dishonored, Dishonored 2, and Death of the Outsider DLC), the sci-fi Prey, the time-looping Deathloop, the open-world shooter Redfall, and the upcoming Marvel's Blade in collaboration with Marvel Games. The studio is owned by ZeniMax Media and Microsoft, with development operations in Lyon, France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dishonored Award-winning stealth action-adventure game where players take on the role of Corvo, a legendary assassin with supernatural abilities. Sold as a premium single-player title.
• Dishonored 2 Sequel to Dishonored, featuring a dual-protagonist system with Empress Emily Kaldwin or Corvo as playable characters in a stealth-action adventure. Sold as a premium single-player title.
• Dishonored: Death of the Outsider Standalone story expansion featuring former assassin Billie Lurk as she embarks on a revenge mission to take down her former mentor. Sold as a standalone paid DLC.
• Prey Sci-fi first-person action-adventure where players explore a space station and uncover a mystery involving alien shapeshifters. Sold as a premium single-player title.
• Prey: Mooncrash Moon-based expansion to Prey featuring roguelike gameplay with multiple playable characters and permadeath mechanics. Sold as a paid DLC expansion.
• Deathloop First-person action game where players must eliminate eight targets across two time-looping islands before the loop resets. Sold as a premium single-player title.
• Redfall Open-world shooter set in a vampire-infested town where players fight to reclaim the island with weapons and superhuman abilities. Sold as a premium single-player/co-op title.
• Marvel's Blade Mature, single-player, third-person action-adventure game set in the heart of Paris, developed by Arkane Lyon in collaboration with Marvel Games, featuring an original story with the studio's signature immersive gameplay.
• Arx Fatalis Arkane Studios' first major title, a first-person role-playing game set in a dark fantasy world with spell-casting and exploration.
• Dishonored - Dunwall City Trials DLC pack for Dishonored featuring challenge maps with combat, stealth, and mobility trials. Sold as paid DLC.
• Dishonored - The Brigmore Witches DLC following assassin Daud as he uncovers the secrets of the Brigmore Witches cult. Sold as paid DLC.
• Dishonored - The Knife Of Dunwall DLC focusing on assassin Daud's perspective as he uncovers a conspiracy. Sold as paid DLC.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dishonored 2 ranked #1 as greatest immersive sim masterpiece
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Marvel GamescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2023Arkane Lyon is collaborating with Marvel Games to develop Marvel's Blade, a mature, single-player, third-person action-adventure game set in Paris. The project represents a significant partnership combining Arkane's immersive sim expertise with Marvel's iconic character licensing. Full production began in 2024 with an approximately $109 million development budget.
• ZeniMax MediaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeniMax Media is the parent company of Arkane Studios. Arkane Lyon is owned by ZeniMax Media and Microsoft following Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax in 2021. ZeniMax provides publishing infrastructure and corporate oversight for the studio.
• Microsoft/XboxflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrosoft acquired ZeniMax Media (including Arkane Studios) in 2021 for approximately $7.5 billion. Xbox serves as the parent gaming division overseeing Arkane's operations. Xbox is reportedly considering shutting down or selling Arkane Studios as part of major restructuring in 2026.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bethesda Game Studios: Sibling studio under ZeniMax Media developing AAA RPGs (Skyrim, Fallout, Starfield). Most directly comparable as a ZeniMax-owned AAA studio facing the same Xbox restructuring pressure and focused on premium single-player experiences.
• Crystal Dynamics: Developer of the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex franchises. Comparable as a AAA single-player action-adventure studio with multiple iconic IP franchises and a history of major-publisher ownership transitions.
• Larian Studios: Developer of Baldur's Gate 3 and the Divinity series. Comparable as a premium, hand-crafted, immersive single-player/RPG studio celebrated for player agency, world-building, and critical acclaim.
• Guerrilla Games: PlayStation Studios developer of Horizon Zero Dawn/Forbidden West. Comparable as a AAA single-player action-adventure studio owned by a platform holder with proprietary engine technology.
• Naughty Dog: PlayStation Studios developer of cinematic narrative action-adventures (The Last of Us, Uncharted). Directly comparable as a AAA studio specializing in hand-crafted single-player, story-driven games with a premium one-time purchase model.
• Santa Monica Studio: Developer of the God of War franchise. Comparable as a AAA single-player action-adventure specialist with strong critical reputation and narrative-driven design within a larger publisher ecosystem.
• Rocksteady Studios: Warner Bros.-owned developer of the Batman: Arkham series. Comparable as a premium single-player action-adventure studio operating under a major publisher and known for critically acclaimed franchise work.
• FromSoftware: Developer of Dark Souls, Elden Ring, and Bloodborne. Comparable as a premium, hand-crafted single-player game studio with distinctive design philosophy and a strongly loyal core audience.
• BioWare: EA-owned developer of Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Directly comparable as a AAA narrative-driven RPG/action-adventure studio owned by a major publisher, also reportedly facing restructuring scrutiny within its parent.
• CD Projekt Red: Developer of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. Comparable as a premium single-player RPG/action-adventure studio with strong brand recognition, narrative focus, and global distribution footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arkane-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arkane Studios