Arkane Studios

Arkane Studios is a French game developer founded in Lyon in 1999 by Raphaël Colantonio alongside ten co-founders. Its work centers on immersive simulations, systemic gameplay and carefully constructed worlds that encourage player agency. Environmental storytelling, distinctive level architecture and action-adventure design are recurring elements of its games.

The studio’s first release, Arx Fatalis (2002), established its interest in first-person role-playing experiences inspired by Ultima Underworld and System Shock. It followed with Dark Messiah of Might and Magic in 2006, extending its approach to action-driven fantasy gameplay. Its capabilities span game and level design, concept art, 3D modeling, world building, gameplay programming and narrative development.

Development history

Arkane expanded to Austin in 2006, establishing a transatlantic development structure. Following its acquisition by ZeniMax Media in 2010, the company released Dishonored in 2012 under the direction of Colantonio and Harvey Smith. The two studios subsequently pursued distinct projects while retaining the wider company’s emphasis on immersive worlds and interconnected gameplay systems.

The Lyon team developed Dishonored 2, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider and Deathloop. The Austin team developed Prey and later the cooperative vampire shooter Redfall. These historical Austin productions remain part of Arkane’s development history, although Microsoft closed that branch in May 2024. Ongoing operations consolidated in Lyon.

Current work

Arkane Lyon is developing Marvel’s Blade, a third-person, single-player action-adventure game in collaboration with Marvel Games. The project extends a portfolio best known for first-person experiences into a different perspective while continuing the studio’s focus on action-adventure development.

Arkane remains a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, which Microsoft acquired in 2021. Alongside its original productions, the studio has undertaken co-development and technical collaboration across the games industry. Its production capabilities encompass both proprietary engine development and Unreal Engine workflows, supporting work across PC and console games.