According to sources familiar with the project, Embracer Group, the Swedish gaming conglomerate, has reportedly canceled an in-development Deus Ex title after two years. The decision comes alongside the layoffs of 97 employees at Eidos Montreal, the studio behind the Deus Ex franchise.
As first reported by Bloomberg, the project had not yet been officially announced but was slated to enter full production later in 2024. Eidos Montreal will instead focus on developing a new original intellectual property, sources stated. Embracer Group has not yet publicly commented on the cancellation or the layoffs.
Eidos Montreal confirmed the staff reductions in a statement on Monday, attributing them to “the global economic context, the challenges of our industry, and the comprehensive restructuring announced by Embracer.” The Deus Ex series is a critically acclaimed cyberpunk action RPG franchise with over 14 million units sold worldwide. Embracer acquired the franchise, along with Eidos Montreal, in 2022.
The cancellation of the Deus Ex project represents the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures implemented by Embracer Group. The company has undergone significant expansion in recent years but has faced financial pressure due to a slowdown in the gaming market. This has led to widespread layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations across Embracer’s portfolio.
Deus Ex is a huge game series with plenty of fans that could generate revenue for Eidos Montreal. However, getting the game into production and completing it costs a lot of money. This may mean the studio is focusing on a different franchise that may do well for them. There’s no word on what they will work on now, but it may be for a wider audience, as cyber-punk-type games have a more niche audience.
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