As Xbox closes down game development divisions, the gaming community is becoming increasingly worried for the creators of Doom, Avowed, Hellblade, and others.

In the wake of the unanticipated shutting down of several Xbox divisions yesterday, numerous gamers are voicing apprehensions about the well-being of other renowned development groups.

On May 7, Microsoft made public the shutting down of four studios, counting among them the creators of Hi-Fi Rush and The Evil Within at Tango Gameworks, and the team behind Prey and Dishonored at Arkane Austin. The latter had difficulties launching Redfall, despite a respected past, whereas the former launched Hi-Fi Rush at the previous year's start, receiving widespread praise and attracting millions of gamers. This sudden potential for closure has caused many to fear what might come for Microsoft's remaining key studios.

The most notable among these is Doom's creator, Id Software. The studio has maintained a low profile since Doom Eternal's 2020 launch, but a Twitter search reveals numerous gamers worried that this team might be the next to face closure should their ongoing projects not perform well.

This anxiety also affects other studios, such as Hellblade's Ninja Theory and Psychonauts' Double Fine. With the imminent release of Hellblade 2, some supporters are already mobilizing to boost the game's sales to protect the studio, whereas others are highlighting forthcoming titles like Avowed and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as means to support other Microsoft studios like Obsidian and Machine Games.

A few of these studios seem secure for the moment - given the two significant RPG ventures in Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian appears especially protected, and it's unlikely Microsoft would want to relinquish the Doom franchise. Yet, central to the dialogue concerning these studio closures is the realization that neither critical nor commercial triumph guarantees security, a stark contrast to expectations. With The Elder Scrolls, Starfield, and Fallout possibly being the only series safe following Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda, Xbox's preference for gigantic hits over smaller, narrative-driven endeavors is evident.