It is a somber time for Deus Ex fans as they face the disappointment of a canceled game in the series and witness the unfortunate layoffs at Eidos Montreal, the developer behind Deus Ex. Elias Toufexis, who famously portrayed protagonist Adam Jensen in the recent games, expressed his heartfelt farewell to the character in a Reddit post.
In his message, Toufexis acknowledged the unwavering support and touching messages from fans, expressing gratitude for their continuous encouragement throughout the years. While bidding adieu to Jensen, he also shared hopes that someone else might acquire the Deus Ex license or explore alternative avenues such as an animated series. In a lighter tone, he even jokingly suggested reaching out to Elon Musk, a known fan, for possible collaboration.
Toufexis admitted the cancellation saddened him, particularly because it resulted in the layoff of his friends at Eidos. He empathized with the current challenges faced by video game companies and expressed a desire for things to improve in the industry.
Closing his statement, Toufexis extended his gratitude for the fan art, stories, and messages of love he has received over the years. He acknowledged the special place that Adam Jensen holds in the hearts of many fans, and he cherishes the association with the character.
Recently, it was reported that the parent company, Embracer Group, canceled the new Deus Ex game after two years of development, leading to the unfortunate layoff of 97 employees from Eidos Montreal.
Embracer Group, a prominent gaming company, has recently undergone a high-profile restructure that has resulted in studio closures, mass layoffs, and the sale of several subsidiaries. These financial struggles followed the failure of a rumored $2 billion deal with the Saudi-backed Savvy Games Group. On February 15, Embracer is set to release its Q3 financial results for the 2024 fiscal year.
In 2022, Embracer Group acquired Eidos Montreal from Square Enix, gaining the rights to well-known franchises like Tomb Raider, Legacy of Kain, and Deus Ex. The most recent installment in the Deus Ex series was Deus Ex: Mankind Divided in 2016, which followed the beloved Deus Ex: Human Revolution released in 2011.
Voice actor Elias Toufexis, known for his role in the Deus Ex games, revealed on Twitter that a “massive” game he was working on was cancelled, while another game he was involved in was being completely reworked with a new team. Toufexis did not disclose the specific titles of these projects. He expressed his concern about the current state of the video game industry, describing it as a “disaster zone.”
The video game industry has already witnessed numerous layoffs in 2024, leading many to compare this period to the challenging time of the industry’s crash in 1983. Recently, Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees in its gaming division after acquiring Call of Duty’s owner, Activision Blizzard, for $69 billion. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) criticized these layoffs, arguing that they contradict statements made during the antitrust trial regarding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which is now complete.
