New Deus Ex is set to scare publishers away. Despite its „charm and freshness,” the game is reportedly „too niche” to be worth the risk

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Publishers find the Deus Ex brand doesn’t generate enough curiosity due to their perception that the cult RPG series is too specialized or narrow in appeal, making it not worth the potential risk.

On April Fool’s Day last year, supporters of Eidos Montreal studio had an unfortunate experience. Reports about layoffs within the company emerged at that time, which was particularly disappointing given that the developer had only recently been acquired by Embracer Group two years prior. What made it even more disheartening was that this wasn’t the first instance. Around a year ago, Jason Schreier from Bloomberg reported on job cuts, which he linked to the cancellation of one of the studio’s unannounced projects – rumored to be a new installment in the Deus Ex series.

Currently, approximately a year after the initial announcement, Tom Henderson shared some less-than-ideal updates. A journalist from Insider Gaming sought clarification regarding the recent job cuts at Eidos Montreal. It is worth mentioning that there was a whisper circulating, which he managed to uncover, suggesting that the studio might be seeking a collaborator or publishing partner for the upcoming Deus Ex project, but without much progress in this regard so far.

One of Henderson’s sources reportedly asserts that multiple companies surveyed view Deus Ex as too specialized or narrow in appeal. Another individual interviewed hinted at publishers being hesitant due to the potential financial risk involved in backing this specific franchise.

Companies might hesitate because although the new Deus Ex (different from the one mentioned in Schreier’s article) is said to offer plenty of charm and innovation, it doesn’t meet the “typical quality and demand” often linked with this specific brand.

This version tries to keep a similar tone while simplifying some of the technical terms and making the meaning clearer for a wider audience.

It might seem unusual not to have faith in such a renowned series, given its last contemporary edition was launched nearly nine years ago and didn’t set any sales records. Given the present market conditions and publishers’ reluctance to take chances, it’s hardly surprising that people aren’t eager to finance a project that would need to uphold the legacy of a cult brand (meaning it would have to satisfy the high expectations of fans of the classic Deus Ex games).

It’s not unusual not to believe in this famous series because its last modern version was released nearly nine years ago and didn’t sell well. Considering the current market situation and publishers’ reluctance to take risks, it’s understandable why no one wants to invest in a project that has to live up to the high expectations of fans of the old Deus Ex games.

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2025-04-07 13:33