MachineGames takes the reins of Arkane: the director of Indiana Jones already has a new position

Arkane Studios already has a new president after the departure of Leonard Bendel and the replacement comes from another Xbox studio.

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In the midst of a week marked by internal changes at Xbox, a significant movement has been confirmed within Bethesda. Arkane Studios now has a new president, and the position falls to a well-known figure within MachineGames, the studio responsible for the successful Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

The change took place on June 30, 2026, coinciding with the departure of Leonard Bendel, who left the studio’s direction after several years at the helm of Arkane.

Jerk Gustafsson takes the reins of Arkane Studios

The chosen one to occupy the position is Jerk Gustafsson, one of the main responsible for MachineGames and a key figure behind the development of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. His appointment took effect on the same day as Bendel’s departure.

The move comes at a particularly delicate time for Xbox and Bethesda, with numerous rumors about internal restructurings, possible studio sales, and project cancellations. Although the change in Arkane has not been officially linked to those decisions, it represents an important change for one of the company’s most prestigious teams.

Gustafsson joins Arkane after contributing to the success of MachineGames in recent years, a studio also responsible for the modern Wolfenstein saga. His experience leading large productions could be decisive in defining the future of the French team.

For now, the new president’s first objectives have not been announced, nor have there been any reports of changes to the projects that Arkane has in development. In any case, the appointment confirms that Xbox continues to reorganize part of its executive structure at a key moment for the future of Bethesda and its internal studios.