1. Eidos Montreal laid off 124 employees due to the cancellation of the nearly seven-year, multi-million dollar project ‘Wildlands.’
2. ‘Wildlands’ was close to completion, in the debugging phase, and set to release later this year, making its cancellation unexpected.
3. The game’s development faced challenges, including multiple engine changes and narrative uncertainties, leading to its significant budget overruns and the cancellation of other projects like a new Deus Ex installment.
4. Footage described of ‘Wildlands’ resembled another canceled game, WiLD, featuring open-world, mythical themes, but remains unreleased publicly.
Recent layoffs at Eidos Montreal spark concerns around their game development strategies
Recently, Eidos Montreal has announced another round of layoffs, citing “changing project needs.” This move resulted in the dismissal of 124 employees, highlighting recent struggles within the studio. The reason behind this decision was linked to the cancelation of a massive project that had been on the studio’s table for about seven years and involved costs reaching into the nine-figure range.
Background of the ‘Wildlands’ project
This ambitious project was named ‘Wildlands’ and, according to sources cited by Insider Gaming, has been in the works since 2019. Throughout its development, the game underwent numerous shifts, including switching between four different game engines. Teams at the studio faced ongoing challenges to keep the project on track, especially when trying to settle on a compelling narrative direction. The budget surpassed one hundred million dollars, leading to the cancellation of other in-progress titles, including a new installment for the well-known Deus Ex franchise.
Development status and unexpected cancellation
Even though the game was nearing its completion stage and was reportedly in the debugging phase, its sudden cancellation comes as a surprise to many. The game was expected to be released later this year, which makes the decision to scrap it quite unexpected. The setback reflects the unpredictable nature of high-budget game development, especially when project scopes expand beyond initial plans.
Imagery and gameplay details
Footage of ‘Wildlands’ allegedly showcased an open-world, third-person action adventure. The visuals bore a resemblance to another canceled game, WiLD by Wild Sheep Studio. In the game, players followed River, a teen from the group named Spiritbounds, who could harness magic and ride mythical creatures. Sadly, Insider Gaming reports that they cannot share the footage publicly, as their source prefers to keep it discreet.
- Cost of the project: Over $100 million
- Development duration: About 7 years
- Number of layoffs: 124 employees
- Game status before cancelation: Near completion, in debugging phase