Embracer studio Eidos-Montreal has laid off 75 staff

Image courtesy of Eidos-Montreal / Embracer

The developers of Deus Ex and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Eidos-Montreal, have unfortunately dismissed 75 employees.

The studio, owned by Embracer, announced the news on LinkedIn and explained that the layoffs occurred as one of its “mandates” concluded. They emphasized that the reductions do not reflect the “commitment or abilities” of their team.

“Regrettably, we lack the ability to fully reassign them to our other ongoing projects and services,” the company stated. “These very skilled, highly qualified professionals will be entering the job market, and we are working diligently to assist them during this transition.”

Eidos-Montreal reaffirmed its dedication to delivering on its remaining popular projects.

Embracer, best known for decimating numerous studios and projects after a poorly executed M&A venture, acquired Eidos-Montreal along with Square Enix Montreal and Crystal Dynamics.

The Swedish conglomerate invested $300 million to acquire the trio from Square Enix in 2022. They also obtained the rights to prominent franchises such as Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, and Legacy of Kain.

At that time, Embracer’s CEO Lars Wingefors stated that the firm would help those studios “achieve their ambitions.”

The reality of Embracer’s reductions

Approximately a year later, however, Embracer initiated a severe reorganization plan that led to widespread layoffs, studio shutdowns, project cancellations, and significant divestments.

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This reorganization concluded with Embracer dividing into three independent companies in search of “successful formulas.”

However, layoffs have not ceased entirely. Earlier this week, Embracer’s studio Crystal Dynamics laid off 17 employees to address its “current business needs.”

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