Deus Ex in absentia
by 
Update []: The cancellation of a “massive” project that’s been in development for “quite a few years” is the reason behind the freshly confirmed layoffs at Eidos Montreal.
This is according to the ever-reliable Jason Schreier, who’s provided a bit more insight on Reddit. He says it was an “original game” which had suffered from “a lot of struggles along the way”.
Given the recent history of Eidos Montreal, it’s no huge surprise to learn that it was trying to get something off the ground. We’ll no doubt hear more about this project over the coming months.
Original Story: Longstanding developer Eidos Montreal has confirmed that it’s cutting 124 jobs, and has parted ways with veteran studio head David Anfossi.
As you may have noticed, the games industry is in a spiralling state right now; layoffs are commonplace as budgets soar, sales struggle to meet expectations, and surrounding technology costs skyrocket.
But in particular, Eidos Montreal has endured years of hardship up until this point. The studio was acquired by Embracer Group from Square Enix back in 2022, and it hasn’t shipped a game since.
In that time, numerous projects have been cancelled, including a new Deus Ex title, and, reportedly, some kind of Soul Reaver reboot. As a result, Eidos Montreal has gone through several rounds of layoffs in the space of just a few years.
There was also talk last year that the studio was pitching another Deus Ex project to publishers — but apparently, no one was prepared to take it on. Given this news, it’s clear that it never got off the ground.
“The reduction in workforce affecting 124 employees is a result of changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams,” reads the company’s official statement.
And, because of Anfossi’s departure, the team is now having to restructure its leadership roles.
It continues: “A transition plan is underway, and further updates will be shared as new leadership is finalised.”
In short, it’s not looking good for what was once one of gaming’s most prestigious outfits. We wish all the best to those impacted by the layoffs.
[source linkedin.com, via gematsu.com]
Robert (or Rob if you’re lazy) is an assistant editor of Push Square, and has been a fan of PlayStation since the 90s, when Tekken 2 introduced him to the incredible world of video games. He still takes his fighting games seriously, but RPGs are his true passion. The Witcher, Persona, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Trails, Tales — he’s played ’em all. A little too much, some might say.
