Eidos Montréal Cuts 124 Jobs as Longtime Studio Head David Anfossi Departs Following Project Cancellations

Eidos Montréal cuts 124 staff as David Anfossi leaves. Discover how the Guardians of the Galaxy developer is pivoting to co-development after project cancellations.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 11:21 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from GamesIndustry.biz

Leadership Vacuum Follows Two Decades of Tenure

The departure of David Anfossi from Eidos Montréal marks the end of an era for the Canadian development powerhouse, as the studio head exits after nineteen years of service. Anfossi, who joined the company in 2007 as a producer before ascending to the top leadership role, was instrumental in defining the studio's identity through high profile projects like Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. According to the studio, his exit coincides with a broader effort to adapt the organization to changing production needs, leaving a leadership vacuum that the company is currently attempting to fill through a finalized transition plan. The loss of such a tenured executive, who previously honed his skills at Ubisoft Montréal, underscores the depth of the current upheaval within the Embracer Group's subsidiary.

Persistent Workforce Reductions Under Embracer Ownership

The latest round of 124 job cuts represents a deepening crisis for the studio's staff, following several waves of redundancies that have occurred since the beginning of 2024. This trend began shortly after the studio was acquired by the Embracer Group in a $300 million deal that included Crystal Dynamics and the now defunct Square Enix Montréal. According to industry reports, the studio has faced a continuous cycle of downsizing, with 97 positions made redundant in early 2024 followed by another 75 layoffs in March of that year. The studio described this latest decision as a difficult but necessary step to concentrate efforts where the team can be most effective, though the frequency of these cuts has significantly eroded the workforce that once led the company’s flagship projects.

Strategic Pivot Toward Microsoft Co Development

In the wake of multiple internal project cancellations, Eidos Montréal has reportedly shifted its primary focus away from lead development and toward support roles for external partners. The studio is currently contributing to high profile Microsoft titles, including the upcoming Fable and Grounded 2, acting as a co-development engine rather than an independent creative lead. This transition follows a bleak December period where employees indicated that most of the studio's original, unannounced projects had been scrapped to cut costs. By aligning with Microsoft's production pipeline, the studio appears to be seeking a stable revenue s...