In another bit of disappointing industry news this week, Eidos-Montréal has announced that 124 employees have been let go — alongside the departure of the team's studio head, David Anfossi — as "a result of changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams".
The studio took to LinkedIn to announce the unfortunate news, while noting that "a transition plan is underway, and further updates will be shared as new leadership is finalized". We'll share the team's full message on these layoffs below:
"AN UPDATE FROM EIDOS-MONTRÉAL
Eidos Montréal is announcing a reduction in its workforce and the departure of Head of Studio, David Anfossi.The reduction in workforce affecting 124 employees is a result of changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams. Today is a difficult day for our studio and reflects the need to adapt and concentrate efforts where Eidos-Montréal can be most effective.
We are deeply grateful to the team members impacted; this decision is not a reflection of their talent, dedication, or performance. Supporting those impacted with care and respect remains our priority, while ensuring continuity for the teams moving forward.
Also, after many years as Head of Studio, David Anfossi and Eidos Montréal are also parting ways. We thank David for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavors. A transition plan is underway, and further updates will be shared as new leadership is finalized.
Today, however, our priority is supporting our colleagues."
The team at Eidos-Montréal hasn't shipped its own game for a good few years at this point, but it has worked as a co-developer on numerous projects, including Fable and Grounded 2 for the folks over at Microsoft. It's unclear whether the studio was still working on those games both prior to these layoffs and indeed whether it will afterwards, but there's no doubt that their impact will be felt on both Xbox titles.
Prior to more recent work co-developing projects with Playground Games and Obsidian Entertainment, Eidos-Montréal lead development on the likes of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and Shadow of the Tomb Raider; both excellent games in their own right. We hope the studio finds it way again, and that those impacted by these layoffs land on their feet ASAP.