Eidos Montreal Layoffs: Second Wave Hits Marvel Guardians Studio - More Cuts Coming? (2025)

It's truly disheartening to witness yet another round of job losses hitting the talented team at Eidos-Montreal, the creative powerhouse behind hits like Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and key contributions to iconic series such as Tomb Raider. If you're new to the gaming world, Eidos-Montreal is a Canadian studio that's been a staple in delivering high-quality adventures, but lately, it's facing some tough challenges that are forcing tough decisions.

In the past week alone, several dedicated staff members have shared their departures on LinkedIn, painting a picture of uncertainty that's all too familiar in the industry. For instance, gameplay director Samuel Daher posted a heartfelt update (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7398821593012989953/?originTrackingId=HOT3SE08iXRoDN1N9LEmuQ%3D%3D), saying something along the lines of, 'Hey everyone! I was really enjoying my time at Eidos and would've loved to stick around, but the current circumstances just made it impossible.' These personal stories highlight the human side of these cuts—people pouring their passion into games, only to find themselves job hunting unexpectedly.

All told, reports suggest at least a dozen or so individuals are now on the market for new opportunities, adding to the growing list of affected employees. This marks the second significant round of reductions at the studio this year, following the earlier dismissal of around 75 team members back in March (https://insider-gaming.com/eidos-montreal-another-embracer-studio-suffers-large-scale-layoffs/). At that time, the company attributed the move to the natural conclusion of certain project mandates, which, for beginners, basically means temporary contracts or specific assignments wrapping up without renewal—a common but painful occurrence in game development where teams swell for big releases and then shrink.

But here's where it gets really concerning—and maybe even controversial: while we'd all love to believe these latest layoffs signal the end of the storm, insiders are whispering that more turbulence lies ahead. According to multiple sources speaking to Insider Gaming, a bunch of ongoing projects at Eidos-Montreal have been scrapped entirely, shifting the studio's priorities toward collaborations with Microsoft and Xbox. Think exciting prospects like a sequel to Grounded or contributions to Fable—these are big-name titles that could showcase the team's skills on a global stage. There's also this lingering internal endeavor that kicked off back in 2019, but sources indicate it's ballooned in costs without a clear path to profitability, raising eyebrows about resource allocation in an era of skyrocketing development budgets.

And this is the part most people miss: once these Microsoft-focused efforts wind down, further staff trims are already on the horizon, potentially reshaping the studio's future in unpredictable ways. Is prioritizing partnerships with giants like Microsoft a smart pivot, or does it risk sidelining original ideas that made Eidos-Montreal shine? That's a debate worth having, especially when it feels like the gaming industry's consolidation is squeezing out creativity.

We've reached out to Eidos-Montreal and their parent company, Embracer Group, for official statements on all this, but as of now, crickets—no replies yet. That's par for the course with Embracer, who have a track record of staying tight-lipped on sensitive topics like workforce reductions or behind-the-scenes project details, leaving fans and industry watchers to piece together the puzzle from leaks and social media.

So, what do you see on the horizon for Eidos-Montreal? Could this be a temporary setback leading to innovative breakthroughs, or a warning sign of deeper issues in how studios like Embracer manage their portfolios? Share your takes in the comments below—I'd love to hear if you agree that more transparency from publishers could prevent these shocks, or if you think it's just the harsh reality of a competitive market. And while you're at it, hop into the official Insider Gaming Discord server to chat more (https://discord.com/invite/vwj7zdWxaW).