Tomb Raider and Deus Ex are Shifting Studios?
In addition to the widespread acquisitions made by Embracer Group, they also took a keen interest in Square Enix’s western development department. With that, they’ve also taken control of Eidos Montreal, Crystal Dynamics, and Square Enix Montreal of which Crystal Dynamics will take control of IPs such as Tomb Raider and Deus Ex.
Embrace Group Shifts IPs Tomb Raider and Deus Ex Across Studios
It was in a 300 million dollar deal where Embracer Group went ahead in full swing to acquire a catalog of IPs such as Deus Ex, Legacy of Kain, Thief, and Tomb Raider.
According to Embracer Group:
Going forward, the Company’s development function will comprise its studios in Japan, Square Enix External Studios, and Square Enix Collective. The Company’s overseas studios will continue to publish franchises such as Just Cause, Outriders and Life is Strange.
The Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors commented on its plans to acquire the iconic franchises during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report back in May.
We recently announced the acquisition of Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal, including Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, Legacy of Kain, and other IPs
The announcement got an overwhelming and positive response. We see great potential, not only in sequels but also in remakes, remasters, spin-offs as well as transmedia projects across the group. – Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors
It was stated that the acquisition which consists of 1,100 employees across three studios across eight locations around the world will close sometime between July and September.
When the deal was announced, Square Enix America and Europe’s CEO Phil Rogers had some good things to share about Embracer Group and the acquisition.
It is the perfect fit for our ambitions: make high-quality games, with great people, sustainably, and grow our existing franchises to their best versions ever. Embracer allows us to forge new partnerships across all media to maximize our franchises’ potential and live our dreams of making extraordinary entertainment.
The Tomb Raider franchise has sold around 88 million units and the Deus Ex franchise has successfully sold 12 million units worldwide according to Embracer Group’s CEO Lars Wingefors.
The deal closed sometime in August and the transfer of control of the various properties has now been completed.
We are excited to inform you that Crystal Dynamics has taken control of several game franchises—including Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain—from the games’ previous owner, Square Enix Limited. – Crystal Dynamics
It appears that Crystal Dynamics has now been handed the keys to several key game franchises such as Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain by Embracer Group. We don’t know what direction the games will take with the new lead development studio on board but it’s likely that the games will stay true to their original direction.
As a result of this change, Crystal Dynamics (or its affiliate) is now the owner of these games and the controller of the gameplay and personal data related to them. If you’d like to know more, please refer to our new Terms of Service and Privacy Notice. – Crystal Dynamics
Keeping view of this trend, Deus Ex and Thief Developer, Eidos Montreal has also gone ahead to update its terms of service along with its privacy notice.
Embracer Group stated back in May that it was now envisaging possible sequels, remasters, remakes, spin-offs, and more for the IPs Eidos Montreal and Crystal Dynamics have acquired.
Following this trend of acquisitions, Crystal Dynamics announced back in April that the new Tomb Raider Game is currently in development using the technological advancements, features, and capabilities provided by the Unreal Engine 5.
This new engine translates into next level storytelling and gameplay experiences
Our goal is to push the envelope of fidelity and to deliver the high-quality cinematic action adventure experience that fans deserve both from Crystal Dynamics and the Tomb Raider franchise. – Dallas Dickinson, Tomb Raider franchise general manager at Crystal Dynamics.
The Tomb Raider franchise game director, Will Kerslake, over at Crystal Dynamics had some things to share about the future of Tomb Raider too.
We’ve got big ambitions for the future of Tomb Raider.
Our origin trilogy back in 2013 told the story of Lara’s early days when she was forged into a survivor, became a hero, and ultimately the Tomb Raider.
“But the classic games featured a seasoned and confident adventurer, traveling the world, unlocking its secrets, often standing alone against cataclysmic forces.
So, what will this acquisition entail for beloved IPs such as Tomb Raider and Deus Ex engulfed by Embracer Group and now at the hands of completely different studios? For now, information is scarce on the direction and the upcoming games planned out by these studios and only time will tell.
Are you excited or worried about these massive acquisitions and IP-developer shifts planned out by Embracer Group? Are these beloved IPs in good hands or will things take a turn for the worst? Let us know in the comments below. We upload daily on Appuals, so stay tuned for more. Till then, see you later and goodbye.
