Home Gaming Thief developer lays off staff

Thief developer lays off staff

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While we’re busy reporting on all the happy news, Deus Ex: human Revolution and Thief developer  Eidos Montreal has confirmed its laid off a number of staff. 27 of its 500 strong workforce has ben let go.

“Yes it is true we’ve let 27 people go today, unfortunately it’s something that every major studio has to do sometimes in order to ensure you have the right set up for current and future projects. It’s never a nice thing to do but we are genuinely trying to offer as much support as much as we can, “ Square said in a statement to Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

We’re trying to re-locate as many people as possible into other roles here or at our other studios and we’ve been in touch several studios in Montreal to arrange a career day for those affected by this. We’re very thankful for all their hard work and we sincerely wish them well.”

There’s no mention of which team has been affected. Edios Montreal is generally a 3 project team; one has just wrapped up Thief, another is busy on a new Deus Ex and rumour says that the third’s new IP project was cancelled.

The obvious conjecture here would be that it’s members of the Thief team that now face unemployment. The game was pretty poorly received after a troubled, 5 year-development that saw it change platforms half way through. In his review, Darryn said it was disappointing,a bit boring – and having recently played it, I have to agree.

Yes, this could be the usual post-launch staff purge – but it’s never nice when anybody loses a job.

Last Updated: March 5, 2014

39 Comments

  1. iAmWeasel

    March 5, 2014 at 10:02

    Should fire them all after butchering the Thief franchise.

    Reply

  2. TiMsTeR1033

    March 5, 2014 at 10:07

    Some games just never get a remake they deserve.. Too many shitty devs out there with only $$$ in their sights instead of seeing a great game.

    Reply

    • oVg PAYNE

      March 5, 2014 at 10:42

      Not really the Devs fault. More the producers. Nothing worse than knowing you have all the talent in the world but have to work to a tight budget.

      Reply

    • Willem Swanepoel

      March 5, 2014 at 11:52

      A developer has no control in the decisions they have made how the game should work and how the story should be told.

      People do not realise how big of an influence a brilliant manager or leader can be on a product.

      Yeah your developers are also important but if you read the reviews of Thief then you will realise that it was a quick “redo” of an awesome series.

      No one complained about a buggy game or stuff that breaks.

      Reply

  3. Admiral Chief in Vegas

    March 5, 2014 at 10:15

    “GOOD JOB”……FIRED!!!!!!

    ???????????????????????????????????????

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 5, 2014 at 10:21

      Back in 2007 Jake White knew that feeling.

      Reply

      • oVg PAYNE

        March 5, 2014 at 10:29

        If he was Jake Black he will still be couching. Its all image.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          March 5, 2014 at 10:30

          He was couching for a while. But he’s back to coaching the Sharks 😛

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            March 5, 2014 at 10:31

            *coaching, (see oVg response, we are one mind!)

          • oVg PAYNE

            March 5, 2014 at 10:35

            He was writing books while on the couch.

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            March 5, 2014 at 10:37

            That’s how hard work is rewarded in SA, shitcanning

          • oVg PAYNE

            March 5, 2014 at 10:31

            To be fired after taking the country to a world win. Only in South Africa. Not to mention the Indian Cricket coach.

        • Admiral Chief in Vegas

          March 5, 2014 at 10:31

          *coaching

          Couching is what I do on my day off

          Reply

          • oVg PAYNE

            March 5, 2014 at 10:32

            lol
            Thats what I meant. They just sit around barking orders.

      • Admiral Chief in Vegas

        March 5, 2014 at 10:31

        Janee bliksem, BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD, oh shit ‘whiteballed’

        Reply

        • oVg PAYNE

          March 5, 2014 at 10:36

          bring me my machine gun. We need a new coach for Banana Banana 😛

          Reply

          • oVg PAYNE

            March 5, 2014 at 10:39

            Fcuk, that Barret just cracks me up man.

          • HvR

            March 5, 2014 at 10:45

            You got to love the leader of a “socialist” party taking an American title.

        • RinceThis

          March 5, 2014 at 10:37

          But Peter de Villiers?! BWAHAHAHA

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            March 5, 2014 at 10:37

            Helium!!!

          • Admiral Chief in Vegas

            March 5, 2014 at 10:37

            yoh yoh yoh

  4. VampyreSquirrel

    March 5, 2014 at 10:19

    More lay offs? My word! That’s nuts! It’s getting out of hand

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Vegas

      March 5, 2014 at 10:24

      Squirrel talking about nuts….heh

      Reply

      • General JJ the Fett

        March 5, 2014 at 10:46

        LOL

        Reply

      • VampyreSquirrel

        March 5, 2014 at 11:37

        Leave da nuts alone bruv, I’z cray cray!!!

        Reply

    • HvR

      March 5, 2014 at 11:00

      Nope expect a lot more, the gaming industry is creating a big bubble.
      Annual releases expecting each to make a billion dollars more than the previous one, copy and paste and relaunching of old IP, freemium games flooding the market, prices going through the roof….

      Sometimes less is more.

      Reply

  5. oVg PAYNE

    March 5, 2014 at 10:26

    I do not believe that humans have any part in game development. I do not even think that Sam and Dan Houser are real. It is the MATRIX.

    Amazing how underground these people are.

    Reply

    • General JJ the Fett

      March 5, 2014 at 10:49

      So that means Banana Jim could’ve had his hand in this. Seeing as how he’s not a human.

      Reply

      • HvR

        March 5, 2014 at 10:57

        Where is the Banana these days? I miss him 🙁

        Reply

        • General JJ the Fett

          March 5, 2014 at 11:00

          Me too. Maybe we need to make a sacrifice again. Usually works.

          Reply

          • HvR

            March 5, 2014 at 11:02

            Tanya, do you want a free makeover?

        • oVg PAYNE

          March 5, 2014 at 13:11

          He is the browser 😛

          Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    March 5, 2014 at 10:53

    Far be it from me to defend corporate business practises, but aren’t most of these guys usually on contract for a particular game & not permanent employees. Game done, contract over, off you go.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Vegas

      March 5, 2014 at 10:54

      Well if its contract work, then yes, I can understand that. But then they would not be classified as “laid off”, Yes? No?

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        March 5, 2014 at 10:56

        I dunno, was just wondering.

        Reply

      • General JJ the Fett

        March 5, 2014 at 10:57

        Dodged a bullet there by not saying “fired”. Just now Donald Trump comes for you.

        Reply

  7. El Capitan del Blade

    March 5, 2014 at 12:00

    The Thief Curse has struck again….

    Reply

  8. Rock789

    March 5, 2014 at 12:05

    I’ve played the original Thief and Thief 2. And I’ve got the new Thief. Busy playing it. And, honestly… I like it. It’s not the greatest stealth game I’ve ever played, but nor do I find it boring or disappointing. Was Dishonored better? Yes. But Thief is still a decent game.

    Reply

  9. gamer

    March 5, 2014 at 13:07

    real shame. sounds like they had a real hard time with the new Thief game.

    Reply

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