Double Fine replies to Xbox closure rumours with emoji

Double Fine posted a single emoji on X/Twitter and BlueSky late last night in response to online reports that Xbox may be closing several internal studios. The post contained no text and was viewed more than 400,000 times within hours.

The reports circulating online named Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory and Double Fine as potentially affected. Compulsion Games and Ninja Theory did not post public responses to the reports.

Journalists sought confirmation from Microsoft and the studios named; at the time of publication, Xbox had not issued an official statement verifying any closures.

Fraser Gilbert described the overnight social-media conversation as chaotic and noted that only an official statement from Xbox will resolve the uncertainty.

Microsoft has previously reorganized and closed teams within its gaming division, but no corporate announcement has been released about the current reports. Fans and journalists are awaiting formal confirmation from Xbox or the studios to clarify the status of the teams.