Hopes have been building over a possible new entry in the Deus Ex game, but Embracer Group has apparently canceled the project. On top of this, developer Eidos has had to issue layoffs, with 97 people affected across multiple departments.
Two years into development, it seems
In a recent report from Bloomberg, “people familiar with the moves” have said that Embracer has pulled the plug on a Deus Ex installment, which had allegedly been in development for two years.
A post on X from Eidos Montreal also states that nearly 100 members of staff are being let go from the company. Development teams, administration, and support services will be the ones hit the hardest, it seems.
The tweet refers to it as a “difficult decision,” adding that “the challenges of our industry and the comprehensive restructuring announced by Embracer have finally impacted our studio.” The statement goes on to say that the developer will continue to commit itself to “creating games that players will be able to enjoy.”
Once again, we find ourselves talking about a seemingly endless string of layoffs that have impacted those who work in video game – and video game-adjacent – companies.
Embracer Group bought out a number of studios back in 2022, including Eidos Montreal and Crystal Dynamics. This brought with it ownership of such huge IPs like Tomb Raider, Thief, Legacy of Kain, as well as Deus Ex.
Going forward, it’s hard to know what the future holds for the dormant sci-fi series. The last Deus Ex game we got was Mankind Divided back in 2016. As of now, it seems as though the franchise will continue to be dead in the water.
