Embracer to Dissolve Former Square Enix Montreal Studio and QA Department

Embracer-owned CDE Entertainment has announced the closure of its publishing QA team and Onoma, a mobile game development studio previously known as Square Enix Montreal. This move is expected to impact around 200 individuals, although CDE aims to relocate some of them to open positions within the company's PC and console projects. According to CDE director Phil Rogers, 'With the opportunity to form Embracer's 12th operative group, we have significant aspirations for Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal.' He added, 'We recognize growth opportunities in our prominent franchises and AAA games. The decision to close our publishing QA and Onoma studio was not taken lightly, and we appreciate the contributions of all team members over the years, hoping to find suitable placements for as many as possible.' The closures are part of CDE's strategy to concentrate its production capabilities on flagship studios Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal. Onoma, established in 2011 to expand Square Enix's AAA console and PC project capacity, transitioned to mobile development within two years. The studio achieved notable success in the mobile sector, creating turn-based adaptations of popular franchises such as Hitman Go, Lara Croft Go, and Deus Ex Go.