Embracer closing former Square Enix Montreal studio and QA team
Roughly 200 people impacted as recently rebranded Onoma and publishing QA team to be shut down; Embracer to focus on Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal instead
CDE Entertainment, the Embracer-owned business group comprised of assets acquired from Square Enix earlier this year, today announced it is shutting down its publishing QA team and Onoma, the mobile developer that rebranded itself last month from Square Enix Montreal.
The closures will impact roughly 200 people, though CDE has said it will look to match some of them with open positions within PC and console projects at the remainder of the company.
"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.
"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."
CDE has said that the closures will be made as it is "focusing its future production capacities on its flagship studios, Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal."
Onoma was founded in 2011 to increase Square Enix's capacity to make AAA console and PC projects, but pivoted to mobile development within two years.
Mobile is where Square Enix Montreal found its greatest success, creating turn-based adaptations of existing franchises like Hitman Go, Lara Croft Go, and Deus Ex Go.
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news from across the games industry delivered straight to your inbox.