- Recent layoffs at Eidos Montreal were due to the cancellation of the project ‘Wildlands’, an open-world game that had cost the studio hundreds of millions of dollars.
- A Deus Ex game was also scrapped in 2024 due to Wildlands taking up most of the budget.
- The game was supposed to release this year and was almost complete.
Yesterday, Eidos Montreal announced that it’s going to be cutting 124 jobs from the studio and that the studio head would also be departing after 13 years of service.
Now, it has been revealed that the reason for this layoff is that the studio cancelled two major projects: a Deus Ex game a couple of years ago and P11, a multi-million dollar project that had been in the works for several years.
Why it matters: Game cancellations lead to layoffs and, often, even studio shutdowns. Specifically for Eidos Montreal, it’s unfortunate to see their condition, as they were once regarded as one of the best developers in the industry.
Insider Gaming was tipped off by a source at Eidos Montreal that revealed that the studio cancelled a Deus Ex game in 2024 due to ‘spiraling’ budgets for the project ‘Wildlands’, the title that was shelved just recently and caused yesterday’s layoffs.
Wildlands had been in development since 2019, and the situation was rough. The game switched engines 4 times and had a budget that “exploded well beyond 9 figures.” It was a third-person open-world title featuring a bunch of teenagers as the main characters who wielded magic.
The lead was named ‘River’, and he would have a large moose-esque companion called ‘Redheart’ to traverse through the open world.
The game was almost completed and was in its polishing phase, and was supposed to be released this year. Unfortunately, Embracer Group didn’t have faith in it any longer after throwing so much money at it.
Now, Eidos Montreal is going through a leadership change that will determine the studio’s future.
What are your thoughts on these game cancellations at Eidos Montreal? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Staff Writer]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
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