UPDATE, from a separate article by Jason Schreier: Compulsion, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory are all in active negotiations with Microsoft. Depending on how that goes, studios may be closed or spun off. I figured rather than also posting the Schreier article, I’ll wait until the dust settles on these deals. This is a bloodbath.
I haven’t heard Obsidian added to the list; just Arkane. But word from Sharma was that they’re doubling down on their biggest franchises, like Fallout, Halo, and Elder Scrolls, at the expense of smaller stuff. That’s the same strategy EA, Ubisoft, and other publishers their size followed until they realized that there’s nothing to replace the core franchises once their popularity wanes; then they found someone to buy the company off of them.
Oh good, so exactly what everybody wants not to happen. Can’t wait for Yet Another Goddamn Franchise Entry.