The cancellation of a new Deus Ex game at Eidos Montreal raises concerns about Embracer’s commitment to beloved gaming franchises. Eidos Montreal, the studio behind critically acclaimed Deus Ex titles Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, was developing a new entry in the cyberpunk series before Embracer reportedly canceled the project. This cancellation came amid layoffs impacting nearly 100 employees at the Eidos Montreal studio.
Embracer acquired Eidos Montreal in 2022, when the company made lofty promises about releasing sequels, remakes, and remasters for IPs like Deus Ex. However, the Swedish gaming giant has developed a pattern of acquiring studios and properties only to cut costs by shelving projects and laying off developers.
Since its acquisition, Eidos Montreal refocused efforts on creating an original franchise over continuing the legendary Deus Ex series. This leaves fans questioning if Embracer is more interested in hoarding IPs than properly utilizing them. The company has acquired a vast catalog of gaming IPs in recent years, from Tomb Raider to Saints Row, while simultaneously closing or downsizing studios.
The turmoil at Eidos Montreal reflects wider struggles at Embracer, which has laid off over 900 employees in cost-cutting efforts since 2022. Once-promising projects at studios like Volition, Gearbox, and Crystal Dynamics face uncertain futures under Embracer’s ownership. It’s understandable for a company to reevaluate business plans, but Embracer risks damaging carefully built franchises and community trust in the process.
Rather than quickly capitalizing on fan excitement around legacy series like Deus Ex, Embracer has pumped the brakes on development. This reactive business strategy has cultivated industry skepticism around Embracer’s ability to properly manage so many beloved gaming properties. It also fuels doubts that promised sequels or reboots will ever see the light of day.
The sudden cancellation of a new Deus Ex entry makes fans doubt if they will ever revisit that franchise’s immersive cyberpunk world. Similarly, while an Unreal Engine-powered Tomb Raider revamp sounds promising, Embracer must prove it can deliver where its promises are concerned.
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After recent studio closures and mass layoffs, Embracer faces rebuilding some lost goodwill. This starts with clear roadmaps for fan-favorite franchises like Deus Ex, showing communities that beloved IPs still have bright futures ahead, even if some projects don’t make it across the finish line. Keeping fans excited around future games requires avoiding radio silence after high-profile cancellations.
While adapting business plans is reasonable, Embracer should take care to avoid further damaging the iconic gaming properties it now controls. Trust must be earned back through transparency and tangible progress. Until then, healthy skepticism remains around Embracer’s handling of Deus Ex and other cherished franchises.
What do you think of the Embracer situation? Is it an IP hoarding scam, as many believe? Leave a comment below!
They need to close Dark Horse