The Embracer Group is shutting down Onoma just months after its acquisition, with some staff set to be transferred to sister studio Eidos Montreal, Bloomberg reports. The closure will impact some 200 employees.
Formerly known as Square Enix Montreal, Onoma was acquired along with the rest of Square Enix’s former western holdings back in August. It subsequently took on the name Onoma back in October.
According to Bloomberg, the move is likely a cost-cutting measure, as Eidos Montreal is reportedly reducing the scope of one project and plans to cancel another. Eidos Montreal is also reportedly helping Microsoft to develop a game in the Fable franchise, though it’s unclear if it’s serving as a support studio for Playground Games’ Fable project. It appears to be similar to the deal that Crystal Dynamics has with The Initiative to co-develop Perfect Dark.
CDE Entertainment, the Embracer-owned group comprised of assets acquired from Square Enix, sent the following statement to GI.biz from director Phil Rogers:
With the opportunity to form the 12th operative group within Embracer we have massive ambitions across Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal. 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.
Founded in 2011, Onoma was best-known for its work on the well-regarded Go series of mobile games, which included Hitman Go, Lara Croft Go, and Deus Ex Go. It was also working on an Avatar: The Last Airbender mobile MMO via its London studio.
Onoma was one of many studios acquired in the midst of Embracer Group’s acquisition spree, which also included the rights to various Lord of the Rings media properties and more. IGN has reached out to The Embracer Group for a statement and will update as necessary.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
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