Embracer announced the latest in a series of acquisitions today with Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal all set to join the group. As part of the deal, several IPs and more than 50 back-catalog games will also be included. In their plans for the future, Embracer promised new installments of beloved franchises like Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, and Legacy of Kain, as well as original IPs.
What is Embracer planning for the future?
The deal is expected to close between July and September this year. After this, Embracer intends to produce an “exciting pipeline of new installments and original IPs” from the three studios. The IPs they are looking to acquire include Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, Legacy of Kain, and “other original franchises” that haven’t been disclosed but definitely don’t include Life Is Strange, Outriders, or Just Cause. Embracer has said they see “an opportunity to invest” in all of these franchises.
Both Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal are working on “several” AAA projects. Crystal Dynamics’ future will continue to include the new Tomb Raider game that was announced at the start of April. Microsoft studio The Initiative also confirmed Crystal Dynamics’ work on the upcoming Perfect Dark game will continue too. Meanwhile, Eidos Montreal’s AAA projects include “new releases from beloved franchises and original IP”. The studio’s “beloved franchises” are Deus Ex, Thief, and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, fuelling hopes of a new installment from any of the three. These AAA games are not likely to be released until at least two years from now, although Square Enix Montreal is expected to release some of their mobile titles later this year.
In other news, Returnal update 3.03 has rebalanced the difficulty for the new Tower of Sisyphus mode, but this jas meant a complete reset of the leaderboards. Elsewhere, the new Playstation Now games for May will include SoulCalibur VI and Blasphemous.