The G.I. Joe* franchise’s latest high-stakes project—a rumored AAA title centered on the iconic Snake Eyes character—has been effectively canceled after Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast reportedly shut down Atomic Arcade, the studio tasked with bringing it to life.
According to an insider, the closure was announced internally earlier this month, with no public statement from Hasbro or Wizards of the Coast. The studio, which formed in 2022 specifically for the Snake Eyes game, had been expanding its team through 2025, even sharing a teaser of the character’s model in May of that year. Now, those efforts appear to have ended abruptly.
This isn’t just another industry shakeup—it’s a blow to fans who had been anticipating a major G.I. Joe game for years. Unlike recent layoffs at studios like Ubisoft or Wildlight Entertainment, where games like Highguard still shipped, Atomic Arcade’s project never reached completion. The shutdown raises questions about Hasbro’s long-term gaming strategy, especially as the company has been pushing harder into interactive entertainment with plans to release one to two major titles annually starting late next year.
What’s next for Snake Eyes?
No details have emerged on whether the game’s assets or code will be repurposed, reassigned, or scrapped entirely. Hasbro has not confirmed the closure, and the studio’s LinkedIn and other public channels remain silent. The lack of transparency leaves developers, investors, and fans in the dark about whether this is a temporary pause or a permanent cancellation.
The shutdown also comes amid a broader trend of studio consolidations in gaming. While Ubisoft and others have managed to release games despite layoffs, Atomic Arcade’s case stands out for its lack of a finished product. For now, G.I. Joe enthusiasts will have to wait—if at all—for an official update.
Hasbro’s gaming ambitions
Despite the setback, Hasbro has been aggressively expanding its gaming division. Earlier this year, Wizards of the Coast announced plans to accelerate its game development pipeline, including a single-player Dungeons & Dragons action game in collaboration with a former God of War director. The company has also hinted at future Monopoly and Transformers titles. The Snake Eyes* shutdown, however, signals potential challenges in balancing ambition with execution.
For those invested in the project, the closure marks the end of a years-long effort—one that had once generated significant buzz. Whether this is a temporary detour or the final chapter remains unclear, but the gaming community will be watching closely for any updates.
