We at NerdLeaks are following a worrying development in the French indie scene: Douze Dixièmes, the studio behind MIO: Memories in Orbit, is reportedly shutting its doors, according to Insider Gaming, which cites a report from French outlet Le Figaro. Take this with a pinch of salt for now, but if true this is a swift and sobering turn of events for a small studio that only recently released a new game.
What Was Reported
Insider Gaming reports that Douze Dixièmes is closing after regaining its independence. Key claims in the report include:
- Douze Dixièmes released MIO: Memories in Orbit in January.
- The closure comes just five months after that release.
- While the game reportedly received positive critical reviews, it "failed to meet expectations on a commercial level."
- After the launch, publisher Focus Entertainment ended its relationship with the developer.
- Per French journalist Gauthier Andres, the co-founders of Douze Dixièmes bought back their shares from Focus Entertainment, which allegedly allowed them to shut down the studio and lay off staff "on their own terms, rather than by a studio."
- The studio was founded in 2017, released its first game Shady Part of Me in 2020, and was acquired by Focus Entertainment in 2021.
- According to latest public numbers cited in the report, Douze Dixièmes had 10 employees.
The Source & Credibility
Per Insider Gaming, the primary origin for this news is a French report in Le Figaro. Insider Gaming also references reporting from French journalist Gauthier Andres about the co-founders buying back shares from Focus Entertainment.
We consider these elements important when sizing up credibility: the report is being relayed by a games outlet that named its sources, and it traces the ownership history of the studio back through public events (founding, first release, acquisition). Still, some claims — especially motives and internal decisions — are relayed as assertions from those reports, so they remain allegations until independently confirmed. If true, the buyback detail is notable because it suggests the co-founders took control of the process.
Take this with a pinch of salt: we have not independently verified the Le Figaro reporting or the specific internal arrangements between Douze Dixièmes and Focus Entertainment. We are flagging the story so readers can follow a developing situation that involves named parties and specific, verifiable company milestones.
What It Could Mean
If the report is accurate, there are a few plain takeaways and some reasonable, cautious inferences we can draw:
- Business Realities For Small Teams: A studio of 10 people that released a game which was praised critically but "failed to meet expectations on a commercial level" illustrates how critical acclaim does not automatically translate into financial sustainability.
- Publisher Relationships Matter: The report claims Focus Entertainment ended its relationship with the studio after launch. If true, that severing of ties appears connected to the studio’s change in ownership and eventual shutdown.
- Control Over Closure: The alleged buyback by the co-founders — if accurate — suggests they chose to manage the closure process themselves, "lay[ing] off staff on their own terms, rather than by a studio," per the cited reporting. That phrasing is a little opaque, but it implies a deliberate decision by leadership about how to wind down operations.
All of the above is presented as conditional — these are what the reports claim and what they could imply if confirmed. We will avoid speculation beyond what the named sources say.
Why This Matters
This story matters because it highlights a series of connected realities that are relevant to anyone tracking the games industry: small studios can produce critically praised work yet still face existential business challenges; publisher partnerships can shift rapidly; and decisions by founders around buybacks and closures can shape the way employees are affected.
We’ll be watching for direct confirmations from Douze Dixièmes or Focus Entertainment, but for now the claim that the studio is shutting down after a brief post-launch window is an important item for the community to note. If true, it’s a reminder that even recent releases and positive reviews don’t always safeguard a studio’s future.
We’re keeping an eye on this story and will update readers if we can independently verify further details. Until then, take the report with a pinch of salt and treat these developments as alleged rather than definitive.
