Months after it was purchased, Hitman Go studio Onoma is being shut down
The developer formerly known as Square Enix Montréal was purchased by Embracer this summer
Studio Onoma, the developer formerly known as Square Enix Montréal, is being closed, Bloomberg and VGC sources said today.
The studio’s new parent Embracer Group – which only acquired it this summer – informed employees on Tuesday morning that the company is being closed, with some employees offered roles at sister studio Eidos Montreal, people with knowledge of the situation said.
Update
CDE Entertainment, the Embracer group which houses the assets it acquired from Square Enix, has confirmed that some 200 jobs will be affected by the closure of its publishing QA team and Studio Onoma.
“With the opportunity to form the 12th operative group within Embracer we have massive ambitions across Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal,” CDE director Phil Rogers said (via GamesIndustry.biz).
“We see the growth opportunities centered around our premier franchises and AAA games. Closing publishing QA and our Onoma studio is a difficult decision and one that we’ve taken with great care and consideration. We greatly thank all those team members for their contributions over the years and hope to find proper placements for as many as possible.”
Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier also claimed on Tuesday that Eidos Montreal is working on a new Deus Ex game, a new IP, and collaborating with Microsoft on Xbox games including Fable.
Square Enix Montreal was founded in 2011 with the goal of developing premium games before switching its focus to free-to-play games in 2013.
It is the developer behind mobile games Hitman Go, Hitman Sniper, Lara Croft Go, Deus Ex Go, Hitman Sniper: The Shadows and Tomb Raider Reloaded, some of which were also released for PC and consoles.
The studio formerly known as Square Enix Montréal rebranded as Studio Onoma just last month.
At the time, it said: “our new brand identity will serve as an umbrella to multiple products, programs, and initiatives, each with distinct personalities.
“We have built the Onoma brand to be flexible to see us into the future, connect with multiple audiences, and not hinder us from expanding with the market.”
Embracer announced in May that it had agreed to acquire a large part of Square Enix‘s western development arm for $300 million, including Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, Square Enix Montréal, and a catalogue of IPs including Tomb Raider, Deus Ex and Thief.
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