New Deus Ex game was pitched by Eidos-Montreal, publishers considered it too 'niche'

cormack12

cormack12

Gold Member
Source: https://insider-gaming.com/exclusive-new-deus-ex-game-pitched-by-eidos-montreal/

While working on details regarding the recent layoffs at the Montreal, Quebec-based studio, it was learned that the company had been actively pitching to external partners and publishers a new Deus Ex game.
According to multiple sources close to the studio's plans, Eidos-Montreal was pitching the new game regularly, but it hasn't led to any commitments from publishers.
One source said that there was a belief from a couple possible partners that the series was "too niche" at this stage. Another said that it became clear after a few meetings that publishers aren't willing to take on the financial risk that comes with the Deus Ex franchise at the moment.
 
It's actually crazy that we are in the timeline where we got very good Deus Ex reboots. I like them better than all the Arkane immersive sims.
 
BennyBlanco said:
It's actually crazy that we are in the timeline where we got very good Deus Ex reboots. I like them better than all the Arkane immersive sims.
Click to expand...

200w.gif


I'm with you on enjoying them more than Akrane Studio's efforts but I just have a hard time getting past the aesthetic of the character models in those titles.
 
cormack12 said:
Source: https://insider-gaming.com/exclusive-new-deus-ex-game-pitched-by-eidos-montreal/

While working on details regarding the recent layoffs at the Montreal, Quebec-based studio, it was learned that the company had been actively pitching to external partners and publishers a new Deus Ex game.
According to multiple sources close to the studio's plans, Eidos-Montreal was pitching the new game regularly, but it hasn't led to any commitments from publishers.
One source said that there was a belief from a couple possible partners that the series was "too niche" at this stage. Another said that it became clear after a few meetings that publishers aren't willing to take on the financial risk that comes with the Deus Ex franchise at the moment.
Click to expand...
They are correct that it is niche however it is the execution. Fuse human revolution with some cod style action and get a great reception. Pubs can't think in terms of marketing it seems.
 
Kinda sad, but they could remake Human Revolution though. Problem is, it could be changed to accomodate modern audiences.
 
I loved the last 2. I guess I'm the problem.


Maybe they should make another "crew" game where 3 annoying characters can't shut the fuck up when you're trying to drive.
 
Last edited:
That means it was probably a real Deus Ex game. First game is in my top 10 BEST games ever made. Last two games were pretty good too, especially Mankind Divided. Placing the game in Czechia and crafting a down to earth plotline was really novel for me.
 
Such a shame. Last two games were great (but no better than Arkane im sims, come on guys), although a little weak in terms of writing.

Cyberpunk is basically an open world Deus Ex-lite and was (still is) a huge success, KCD is kinda hardcore im-sim and is quite successful as well. It's strange than no publisher sees an opportunity here
 
Once sat in a meeting where they showed a 25 year franchise plan spanning three trilogies. They had such a passionate team during the Mankind Divided era, but I think they were a tad too ambitious (like seriously, THREE trilogy arc?) -- clearly Square believed but the audience never showed up.
 
Sounds like the issue isn't with the pitch, it's with the baggage that comes with the IP.

They really need to rebuild the IP because it's 25 years old now and the kids don't know what the fuck Deus Ex is any more. Part of that is an accessibility problem. Get Nightdive to work on re-releasing the original on all platforms with polished graphics and UI, like what System Shock 2 is getting or the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection. Put out Human Revolution and Mankind Divided as a 4K60 remaster on PS5. Reignite some interest in a new game! Because they need to be able to say to publishers "look at how well the re-releases sold".

Once it's well and truly re-established in the public consciousness, all a new game needs is a really good trailer in an E3 conference or State of Play and it can have its Glup Shitto moment:

xqlbgTn.jpeg


Nothing is ever dead - Dino Crisis is now voted the most wanted Capcom game. Silent Hill came back from the dead and sold better than ever.

Also distance the series as much as possible from that pretentious ass "immersive sim" label. It's a fucking FPS game with role-playing and stealth. Done. Really should not be a hard sell but nerds trying to make it out to be something fancier than it is has ended up gatekeeping the series from the one thing it needed most: sales figures. You need to capture the casual audience as much as possible.
 
Last edited:
viveks86 said:
i.e. "wasn't suitable for a modern audience"
Click to expand...
people need to ask themselves why this trend keeps happening

they're not talking about zoomers they're talking about the actual audience that only like very streamlined experience, that even includes so called veteran gamers

Killer8 said:
Nothing is ever dead - Dino Crisis is now voted the most wanted Capcom game. Silent Hill came back from the dead and sold better than ever.

Also distance the series as much as possible from that pretentious ass "immersive sim" label. It's a fucking FPS game with role-playing and stealth. Done. Really should not be a hard sell but nerds trying to make it out to be something fancier than it is has ended up gatekeeping the series from the one thing it needed most: sales figures. You need to capture the casual audience as much as possible.
Click to expand...
see ?
 
Listening to the team's commentary while playing through the Director's Cut of Human Revolution was something else. These people are very talented and clearly love the franchise.

Back in the day I played this on WiiU. That was a truly magical gaming experience. You could encounter voice logs other players left for you in the world via Miiverse.

Truly exceptional game. Here is the FULL (8 hour!!!!) commentary track. If you love Deus Ex or want to know how games are made, it's a must.

 
Last edited:
ungalo said:
people need to ask themselves why this trend keeps happening

they're not talking about zoomers they're talking about the actual audience that only like very streamlined experience, that even includes so called veteran gamers


see ?
Click to expand...
It's all a bit too confusing, to be honest. How is there a market for Cyberpunk 2077, but not a market for Deus Ex? What about the past couple of games wasn't streamlined that it falls into some niche that doesn't have a big enough audience? Perhaps the issue was with the specific pitch. I just can't fathom the IP or genre to be obsolete.
 
Last edited:
viveks86 said:
How is there a market for Cyberpunk 2077, but not a market for Deus Ex?
Click to expand...
Because the games are completely different ? As much as i love Cyberpunk for the immersion, atmosphere, writing...design-wise, it's a shitty blend of mechanics with no purpose other than not being offensive to the player. Exactly as Killer8 put it, FPS with some RPG and some stealth, ready to serve to the average joe.

Deus Ex even the last games they commit a lot more to their design principles.
 
I find this really sad. Deus ex, and the Thief series, are my favourite game franchises of all time. It sucks to know they'll probably never get sequels. Especially considering the type of games that sell in millions or get endless sequels.
Some of the shit kids play these days... They don't know what a good game is. 😆
 
What a shame.

(I know you read this in JC's voice, but it really is a damn shame that the series is basically done.)
 
I can't do anymore bad news today... Deus Ex Human Revolution was the game that influenced my present gaming tastes. It was my first CRPG and was niche then, but it got me to open and expand my gaming tastes. No good will come of only making safe, mainstream games long term.

Series like Nier, Demon/Dark Souls, Persona, and life Sims were also niche but there is now a big popularity around them. Baldur's Gate 3 was also very niche outside the Baldur's Gate name. Larian's previous game, Divinity Original Sin 2 didn't sell bucketloads despite being very well received and being the building blocks for BG3.

Sometimes I think publishers try to manufacture public opinion kind of like how EA said DA Veilgard failed was due to it not being a live service which is just crazy.
 
corgiix3 said:
Deus ex is a god tier franchise. And in a post cyberpunk world could have been bigger than ever. What a fking fumble
Click to expand...
Right? I think with what is happening now in the world, the Deus Ex series almost mirrors ours. I think it would be extremely relevant right now.
 
ungalo said:
Because the games are completely different ? As much as i love Cyberpunk for the immersion, atmosphere, writing...design-wise, it's a shitty blend of mechanics with no purpose other than not being offensive to the player. Exactly as Killer8 put it, FPS with some RPG and some stealth, ready to serve to the average joe.

Deus Ex even the last games they commit a lot more to their design principles.
Click to expand...
From a game design perspective and nuance, yeah I see the difference. I was thinking more from a marketing standpoint. What would a high level trailer look like that's so different, that people would flock to one and not the other?

The issue would have to be really dumbed down and fundamental for it to not even pass an initial pitch, like "game is too dark and serious" or "too cerebral" or "not enough purple". Or may be it really is stuck behind a legacy and the "immersive sim" branding.
 
Last edited:
Sucks, considering Mankind Divided's story was obviously unfinished. Would've been nice to see where they could've gone with it.
 
Deus Ex is one of my favorite franchises and I hate that it's dead. I wish we would even just get a release of human revolution on modern consoles with some slight improvements to framerate and resolution etc.
 
Arachnid said:
Braindead audiences. Insane that games like Deus Ex and Dishonored fail/underperform but the annual AC sells their total in 1-2 days.
Click to expand...
I've been saying this for a while now, complex games need to be more expensive so a smaller audience can make it break even. We replay those games way more than the slop anyway. It's about voting with our wallets. Way things are going, immersive sims might become a thing of the past in the face of the brainrot generation.
 
It'll take the fans to do an "unofficial" reboot of the franchise, or somehow bring Adam Jensen back, because there is no point in holding your breath for an official continuation of the story happening ...this is a similar fate to how we won't get another Guardians of the Galaxy game either.....remember we now live in an industry where games are not allowed to fail.....look at Dead space, and Alone in the Dark for reference...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Edios-Montreal (Avengers, GotG, Tomb Raider, Deus Ex) Lays Off 75
News 
39
2K
xrnzaaas replied
Resistance 4 Was Pitched By Insomniac, But Sony Turned It Down
2 3 4 5
202
8K
Audiophile replied
In the mid 90's, a 10y old game was considered "retro"
2
65
3K
_Ex_ replied
Thick as Thieves is the next game from Deus Ex and Thief leads' studio OtherSide.
News  2
55
3K
Men_in_Boxes replied
Astro Bot (Project Astro Next) was pitched to Sony in May 2021, a month after Team Asobi was established - development lasted 3 years
News Event Game Dev 
31
2K
mckmas8808 replied
Top Bottom