Square Enix Montréal
Square Enix Montréal business and news from across the web.
'A new industry with a new identity:' How Canadian devs are faring in 2026The Canadian games industry is undergoing a transformation, moving away from a reliance on triple-A development and tax incentives towards a more resilient model focused on indie studios and community collaboration. Despite recent layoffs and studio closures, there is optimism for a new identity centered on smaller, agile teams that can validate market potential through evidence like wishlists and community engagement, supported by systems like the Canadian Media Fund.
What the heck are you playing at, games industry?The article criticizes the recent surge in video game studio closures and layoffs, highlighting numerous studios shut down by major publishers like Ubisoft, EA, Embracer, Sony, and Microsoft. It questions the business strategies of these publishers, particularly Microsoft's handling of Ninja Theory and the high development cost of Xbox exclusives like Gears of War E-Day, while also pointing to the industry's pursuit of live services and infinite growth over sustainable development.
Eidos-Montréal announces 124 job cuts; studio head David Anfossi departs after 19 years at developerEidos-Montréal has announced a workforce reduction affecting 124 employees, with studio head David Anfossi departing after 19 years. The decision is attributed to changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams. This follows previous layoffs in December and March, with the studio reportedly focusing on co-development projects like Microsoft's Grounded 2 and Fable.