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PayPalHopes for a new Deus Ex have been dashed, with the Embracer Group owned Eidos-Montréal confirming that they've cut 97 people go as the mass-layoffs continue. This is just another in a long list of developers and publishers cutting staff and cancelling projects, all while the Embracer Group try to reduce their costs. It's also another in a long list of just industry-wide layoffs lately.
Confirming the staff news on X in an image post below:
Image Credit: Eidos-Montréal
Here's the text if you have trouble reading the image:
For the last 17 years, our teams at Eidos have worked on some of the most beloved brands in the industry, combining deep storytelling and innovation into unique games. We have created memorable multi awarded experiences that we are proud of and we know our teams members have put their heart and soul in all of them.
The global economic context, the challenges of our industry and the comprehensive restructuring announced by Embracer have finally impacted our studio. The difficult decision has been made to let go 97 people from development teams, administration, and support services.
We are working to support all impacted personnel through this transition. These very talented, highly experienced people are entering the employment market, and we want them to find their next projects and are helping to do so.
As we navigate these difficult times, the well-being of our team is our priority and the continuous commitment to creating games that players will be able to enjoy in the nearby future.
To our players... it's often times not just the games but the game makers as well that we all celebrate and admire. Our commitment is always to making the best games for our amazing fans and even with this restructuring change, we continue to fight on to deliver those awesome experiences for us to share together. Thank you for your continuing support and well wishes.
While they didn't say anything about a new Deus Ex game being canned, Bloomberg originally reported on it today that claims the new game was already two years into development.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Pink slips being delivered like hot pancakes, meanwhile prices keep rising and rising, something doesn't add up 🤔🤔
I mean, if they are selling less, maybe they could try lowering prices.
But then it would be difficult to justify raising the prices even further down the line! Can't have that
3 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle 29 Jan 2024
Pink slips being delivered like hot pancakes, meanwhile prices keep rising and rising, something doesn't add up 🤔🤔
I mean, if they are selling less, maybe they could try lowering prices.
Games actually got (relatively) cheaper compared with what they used to cost 20 years ago, while the costs for making them have exploded over the same period. The problem is more the opposite of what you suggested - it's rock hard to deliver the quality people want for the price they're willing to pay.
4 Likes, Who?
Pink slips being delivered like hot pancakes, meanwhile prices keep rising and rising, something doesn't add up 🤔🤔
I mean, if they are selling less, maybe they could try lowering prices.
Games actually got (relatively) cheaper compared with what they used to cost 20 years ago, while the costs for making them have exploded over the same period. The problem is more the opposite of what you suggested - it's rock hard to deliver the quality people want for the price they're willing to pay.
This, though it's probably also worth noting that executives and board members who have what could be considered largely outsized salaries in comparison to the amount of work they actually do, and have a less than open mind to the suggestion of taking a pay cut instead of costing large swaths of others their entire livelihood would go a long way to make things easier, especially during the current global economic situation.
10 Likes, Who?
In such countries where wages are 600-700usd (in best case scenario) its insane to spend 60 dollars on game.It's not even like that price gets you the full game anymore - some companies, like Sega, now expect people to pay a lot extra for previously-standard features.
6 Likes, Who?
Pink slips being delivered like hot pancakes, meanwhile prices keep rising and rising, something doesn't add up 🤔🤔
I mean, if they are selling less, maybe they could try lowering prices.
Games actually got (relatively) cheaper compared with what they used to cost 20 years ago, while the costs for making them have exploded over the same period. The problem is more the opposite of what you suggested - it's rock hard to deliver the quality people want for the price they're willing to pay.
This, though it's probably also worth noting that executives and board members who have what could be considered largely outsized salaries in comparison to the amount of work they actually do, and have a less than open mind to the suggestion of taking a pay cut instead of costing large swaths of others their entire livelihood would go a long way to make things easier, especially during the current global economic situation.
Since January last year i bought RT and BG3 on release, plus i got WotR with season pass on a GoG sale; that's about 150 EUR overall, really hard to justify even on a job with a degree.
People in Germany with the same job earn 10 times more; these are the countries that video games are mainly made for.
2 Likes, Who?
I like Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. And it did feel unfinished, so it would be a waste if they'll never make a sequel now.
7 Likes, Who?
walther von stolzing 29 Jan 2024
Awful news.
2 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man 29 Jan 2024
Pink slips being delivered like hot pancakes, meanwhile prices keep rising and rising, something doesn't add up 🤔🤔Economics don't really work that way. If companies could increase profits by simply lowering prices, then everybody would do it.
I mean, if they are selling less, maybe they could try lowering prices.
3 Likes, Who?
If studios are not making money over fist then there is a serious problem in the industry and I point this finger squarely at the publishers.
Too much money spent on marketing and rolling over to shareholders. Preaching certain ideologies and milking the gamer hard while completely ignoring all concerns and complaints, Just look at Starfield and Cities Skylines 2 as recent examples. Publisher messes up big time and rather than accept responsibly they just blame the customer and label them toxic haters ect.
To be honest I would welcome a big gaming crash in order to clean out the trash, Its just unfortunate that innocent hard working folks have to suffer as a consequence of extremely poor publisher decisions. I am amazed this has not happened sooner.
I think Microsoft's GAMEPASS is likely a key player and responsible for this mass studio culling of staff, However I still point the blame squarely at the publishers. When you keep biting the hand that feeds you then eventually negative consequences will arise.
If Games are priced fairly and released in good quality then sales will no doubt increase and gamers would be happy. No other industry would get away with this kind of behaviour so why do gamers put up with it?
Too much money spent on marketing and rolling over to shareholders. Preaching certain ideologies and milking the gamer hard while completely ignoring all concerns and complaints, Just look at Starfield and Cities Skylines 2 as recent examples. Publisher messes up big time and rather than accept responsibly they just blame the customer and label them toxic haters ect.
To be honest I would welcome a big gaming crash in order to clean out the trash, Its just unfortunate that innocent hard working folks have to suffer as a consequence of extremely poor publisher decisions. I am amazed this has not happened sooner.
I think Microsoft's GAMEPASS is likely a key player and responsible for this mass studio culling of staff, However I still point the blame squarely at the publishers. When you keep biting the hand that feeds you then eventually negative consequences will arise.
If Games are priced fairly and released in good quality then sales will no doubt increase and gamers would be happy. No other industry would get away with this kind of behaviour so why do gamers put up with it?
4 Likes, Who?
With any luck, a bunch of indie studios will pop up releasing games built with passion and good game mechanics.
5 Likes, Who?
gaboversta 30 Jan 2024
Looks like Embracer has reached the extinguish phase.
3 Likes, Who?
Remember that when talking about a studio owned by a company like Embracer they're not having to get rid of people because "the economy" or any reason that you think might makes sense, they're suffering because Embracer is ran by greedy morons who gambled with money they didn't have and lost.
When Embracer was on a buying spree they didn't really have the resources to sustain all the studios they were buying but they had a very risky and stupid plan in mind, they wanted to make a $2 billion deal with a Saudi group which is where the real money was going to come from for them. They were only buying developers to make themselves look bigger and more valuable. Of course the deal didn't happen in the end and they were left in charge of a large group of game development studios and no money so it was time to save themselves, and they did it by doing the only thing CEOs know how to do when they make a mistake, make everybody else pay for it.
Of course nobody involved directly in this situation with any hope of still being able to work in the industry are going to mention it in any official statement every time hundreds of people get fired or entire studios owned by Embracer are shut down without warning.
When Embracer was on a buying spree they didn't really have the resources to sustain all the studios they were buying but they had a very risky and stupid plan in mind, they wanted to make a $2 billion deal with a Saudi group which is where the real money was going to come from for them. They were only buying developers to make themselves look bigger and more valuable. Of course the deal didn't happen in the end and they were left in charge of a large group of game development studios and no money so it was time to save themselves, and they did it by doing the only thing CEOs know how to do when they make a mistake, make everybody else pay for it.
Of course nobody involved directly in this situation with any hope of still being able to work in the industry are going to mention it in any official statement every time hundreds of people get fired or entire studios owned by Embracer are shut down without warning.
6 Likes, Who?
Arehandoro 30 Jan 2024
Pink slips being delivered like hot pancakes, meanwhile prices keep rising and rising, something doesn't add up 🤔🤔
I mean, if they are selling less, maybe they could try lowering prices.
Games actually got (relatively) cheaper compared with what they used to cost 20 years ago, while the costs for making them have exploded over the same period. The problem is more the opposite of what you suggested - it's rock hard to deliver the quality people want for the price they're willing to pay.
Gaming devs also earn significantly less, on average, in the industry that their counterparts in other tech fields.
1 Likes, Who?
With any luck, a bunch of indie studios will pop up releasing games built with passion and good game mechanics.
Ant then they will be gobbled up by one of the conglomerates.
0 Likes
Regardless of price or quality issue with games, I think that the market is getting saturated.
For instance I haven't bought games like BG3 because I already have a few (10ish) games to play before that (which will likely take me a couple of years at my current rate).
I don't think I am the only one. Even if there are people with a backlog of thousands of games, most people will not buy a game if they don't have time to play it.
There are just too many "good" games published all the time. Therefore it is hard to stand out with your new game as a developer and get people to buy it.
For instance I haven't bought games like BG3 because I already have a few (10ish) games to play before that (which will likely take me a couple of years at my current rate).
I don't think I am the only one. Even if there are people with a backlog of thousands of games, most people will not buy a game if they don't have time to play it.
There are just too many "good" games published all the time. Therefore it is hard to stand out with your new game as a developer and get people to buy it.
4 Likes, Who?
hardpenguin 30 Jan 2024
Nooooooooooooo I never asked for this
0 Likes
R Daneel Olivaw 30 Jan 2024
NOOOOOO. My favorite all time series. Ugh. And another Embracer clusterbomb. How many studios does this miserable umbrella corp own? Every time I see their name I just think "stay as far away from this cancer as possible" as the only news I've EVER seen of them is closing / firings.
0 Likes
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