MONTREAL (Azat TV) – Eidos Montreal, the developer behind the acclaimed Deus Ex franchise, has announced a significant reduction in its workforce, confirming the layoff of 124 employees. The studio also revealed that David Anfossi, who served as head of the studio for over a decade, is parting ways with the company effective immediately. These developments, announced on March 30, 2026, mark a major turning point for the Montreal-based developer as it attempts to recalibrate its operations amid a broader period of instability across the global gaming sector.
Shifting Priorities and Workforce Reductions
The studio attributed the mass layoffs to evolving project requirements, noting that the cuts impact both production and support teams. In an official statement, Eidos Montreal emphasized that the decision was not a reflection of the individual performance or dedication of the affected staff. The studio stated, “Today is a difficult day for our studio and reflects the need to adapt and concentrate efforts where Eidos-Montreal can be most effective.”
This latest round of downsizing follows a pattern of instability at the studio, which has faced multiple rounds of layoffs over the past two years, including significant cuts in late 2025 and early 2024. Sources indicate that the studio has been shifting its focus away from internal proprietary projects, such as a long-rumored Deus Ex sequel, toward co-development roles for larger publishers, including contributions to titles like Fable and Grounded 2.
Leadership Transition Amid Industry Volatility
The departure of David Anfossi represents a profound loss of institutional memory for the studio. A 19-year veteran of the company, Anfossi was instrumental in the production of Deus Ex: Human Revolution and oversaw the studio’s growth through subsequent high-profile releases, including Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and the Tomb Raider franchise. While Eidos Montreal confirmed a transition plan is currently in motion, it has yet to name a successor to lead the studio through this restructuring phase.
A Broader Trend in Global Gaming
The situation at Eidos Montreal mirrors the current volatility facing the gaming industry at large. The month of March 2026 alone has seen thousands of positions eliminated across the sector, with companies like Epic Games and various subsidiaries within the Embracer Group implementing aggressive cost-cutting measures. Industry analysts point to a cooling in consumer engagement and the high financial stakes of modern AAA development as primary drivers behind this trend of consolidation and workforce reduction.
The departure of such a long-standing leader alongside a double-digit percentage reduction in staff suggests that Eidos Montreal is undergoing a fundamental transformation from a primary developer of immersive sims into a support-oriented studio, signaling a permanent shift in the studio’s historical identity and strategic focus within the Embracer Group portfolio.