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NetEase-Backed Bad Brain Game Studios to Shut Down on Nov. 17

The move reflects NetEase's pullback from Western studios following Bad Brain's unsuccessful search for a new publisher.

Overview

  • Bad Brain confirmed it will cease operations on November 17, 2025 after failing to secure a new partner for its project Midnight Riders.
  • The in-development game and its underlying IP are available for acquisition or partnership, and the studio released a public sizzle reel to showcase the work.
  • Founded in 2023 with NetEase support, the Canada-based team included former Ubisoft developers who worked on Watch Dogs: Legion.
  • According to the studio’s LinkedIn page, between 11 and 50 employees will be affected by the closure.
  • The closure date matches Fantastic Pixel Castle’s planned shutdown and follows other NetEase retrenchments involving T‑Minus Zero, Worlds Untold and Jar of Sparks.