Embracer Shuts Down Former Square Enix Montreal Studio
Embracer Group acquired Square Enix’s western divisions in a single giant deal, however the conglomerate is already shutting down the previous Square Enix Montreal studio. Hitman GO developer Onoma, beforehand often called Square Enix Montreal, was shut down simply three weeks after it obtained the brand new title below the Embracer Group umbrella.
Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reviews Onoma has closed its studio doorways as Embracer Group shifts its focus to console and PC releases. Onoma’s employees had been notified of the studio closure throughout an Embracer Group assembly at 2 p.m. EDT at present, November 1. The Onoma closure is cited as a cost-cutting measure in accordance with Bloomberg’s sources. Some remaining Onoma employees will transfer to Eidos Montreal, which stays intact following the acquisition by Embracer Group. Eidos Montreal will tackle a number of new initiatives together with a co-developer partnership with Xbox.
Alongside the closure of the previous Square Enix Montreal studio, Eidos Montreal reportedly canceled one in every of its unannounced video games. Various rumors recommend the canceled venture was a Stranger Things-inspired “children on bikes” recreation, however lots of the particulars surrounding the title are left as much as hypothesis. Eidos Montreal is shifting on to a number of new initiatives which embrace a brand-new Deus Ex recreation, the brand new Fable recreation in partnership with Xbox, and an authentic mental property. The Deus Ex recreation could be very early in manufacturing, and the brand new IP was lately rescoped at Eidos Montreal. Further, Eidos Montreal could also be engaged on extra Xbox video games sooner or later after Fable as a part of a co-developer partnership.
Embracer Group seems to be assessing IPs lately obtained by main acquisitions together with Deus Ex, Legacy of Kain, and Tomb Raider. The conglomerate is specializing in console and PC improvement whereas Onoma centered its efforts on cell titles like Hitman GO and Deus Ex GO. As a consequence, Embracer Group selected to shut Onoma down and produce its employees into Eidos Montreal to work on new console and PC titles.
The partnership with Xbox for titles like Fable is one other promising signal for the way forward for Embracer Group and Eidos Montreal. Official phrase on Fable’s gameplay has been missing for a number of years, however Xbox may probably share some new particulars at its annual showcase in summer time 2023.