Embracer Shuts Down Onoma, the Studio Formely Known as Square Enix Montréal

Embracer Group is shutting down Onoma, formerly Square Enix Montréal, the studio best known for creating the Go series of mobile games such as Hitman Go, Lara Croft Go, and Deus Ex Go, just a few months after its acquisition.

As reported by Bloomberg, which cites "people familiar with the situation", Onoma’s staff were informed of the shutdown on Tuesday. It is also said that the studio's employees would be transferred to the sister studio, Eidos Montréal. Embracer representative confirmed the closure to Bloomberg and said about 200 employees will be impacted by the move.

Onoma, along with Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montréal, was purchased by Embracer in August, with the Swedish holding saying that the three studios would form a new operating group. In October, the studio announced it had rebranded to Onoma, saying that its new brand identity would "serve as an umbrella to multiple products, programs, and initiatives, each with distinct personalities."

Embracer's move to shut down Onoma is especially unusual due to this timing. However, the reason for that may be that the Swedish holding is using it as a cost-cutting measure as, according to Bloomberg's sources, the company plans to reduce the scope of one of Eidos Montréal's projects and cancel another one.

It is also claimed that Eidos Montréal is planning to work with Microsoft as a supporting studio on some projects, including a game in the Fable franchise, developed by Playground Games.

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