Eidos Montreal, a studio owned by Embracer Group, has announced it is laying off 97 staff, including those from the development, administration, and support services. It is also being reported by Bloomberg that a new Deus Ex has been cancelled, after being in development for two years.
In a statement, Eidos Montreal wrote, “For the last 17 years, our teams at Eidos have worked on some of the most beloved brands in the industry, combining the deep story telling and innovation into unique games. We have created memorable multi awarded experiences that we are proud of and we know our team members have put their heart and soul in all of them. The global economic context, the challenges of our industry and the comprehensive restructuring announced by Embracer have finally impacted our studio. The difficult decision has been made to let go 97 people from development teams, administration, and support services. We are working to support all impacted personnel through the transition. These very talented, highly experienced people are entering the employment market, and we want them to find their next projects, and are helping to do so.
As we navigate these difficult times, the well-being of our team is our priority and the continuous commitment to creating games that players will be able to enjoy in the near future. To our players, it’s often times not just the games but the game makers as well that we all celebrate and admire. Our commitment is always making the best games for our amazing fans and even with this restructuring change, we continue to fight on to deliver those awesome experiences for us to share together. Thank you for continuing support and well wishes.”
Eidos references the cuts Embracer has been making across its studio portfolio. Earlier this month, Lost Boys Interactive was hit by massive lay offs. Free Radical Design was shut down in December, and TimeSplitters was cancelled. Volition was shut down last year too.
