Last year’s installment in the popular sci-fi gaming series, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, left fans divided thanks to an abrupt ending and the reliance on expensive DLC. While developer Eidos Montreal promised narrative resolution and an eventual follow-up, it seems that plans have changed.
Square Enix, the publisher behind Eidos’ recent Deus Ex games, announced a new partnership with Marvel last week. The “Avengers Project” is said to span multiple developers and properties to create a new universe for Marvel video games. While no specific announcements were made initially, the first of these titles is expected next year.
Reports surfaced this morning that Eidos Montreal will be taking up one of these projects, in place of the next Deus Ex game. Mankind Divided’s third DLC, “A Criminal Past”, launches on Feb. 23, and will seemingly be the last entry in that universe for some time.
Kotaku further reported that the studio will be taking on Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as helping out on the main Avengers game. While Deus Ex has been put on hold, development of the next Tomb Raider game seems to still be on track.
A statement from Square Enix seems to indicate that the Deus Ex franchise is on hold, but the story may continue in mediums other than video games:
While we are still working on expanding the Deus Ex Universe, along with creating new content and updates for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, we’re also devoting our talents towards working with Crystal Dynamics and Marvel on The Avengers project.