Square Enix looking into new Canadian studio

Square Enix may be opening another studio in the great white north, according to an interview in the Montreal newspaper La Presse (via Game Focus)....

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Square Enix may be opening another studio in the great white north, according to an interview in the Montreal newspaper La Presse (via Game Focus). Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal are all said to be in the running for the new location, which would contain over 100 employees.

Square Enix owns Eidos, which opened a new studio in Montreal in 2007. It acts as the quality assurance base for the company and is currently working on new entries in the Deus Ex and Thief franchises. But having a studio in the city already doesn't necessarily rule out opening another. The report claims it could be looking into having the two work collaboratively, in addition to benefits of tax credits and subsidies.

More publishers have been looking into Canadian cities as options for new development houses. Ubisoft received investment funds from the Ontario government when it opened a studio in Toronto, and rumor has it that THQ may be moving Kaos to Montreal [via Develop].

Eidos Montreal director Stéphane D'Astous said the company hopes to reach a decision by May, and to open the new studio sometime in 2012. Eidos Montreal is set to launch Deus Ex: Human Revolution in August.

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  • reply
    March 16, 2011 4:30 PM

    Comment on Square Enix looking into new Canadian studio, by Steve Watts.

    • reply
      March 16, 2011 4:33 PM

      Summary: Square Enix may be opening another studio in the great white north, according to an interview in the Montreal newspaper La Presse (via Game Focus)....

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      March 16, 2011 4:34 PM

      They should come to Winnipeg :(

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        March 16, 2011 4:36 PM

        Why? I've been there and it's nice enough, but Jesus it's cold in the winter.

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          March 16, 2011 4:43 PM

          and we never had a shackmeet? Besides, its cold 3 months of the year and global warming will make this place tropical :)

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            March 17, 2011 9:52 AM

            It was over 10 years ago and I was up from Minot AFB for a weekend.

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        March 17, 2011 9:34 AM

        I second this.. I mean, what else can you do when you are snowed in? Test games and code! :)

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      March 16, 2011 4:41 PM

      the next Final Fantasy game will have the hero use the Animus slip a camera under a door probably just be better, if a Canadian team makes it

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      March 17, 2011 1:59 AM

      People still buy Square Enix games? Why?

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        March 17, 2011 2:29 AM

        Because they're awesome?

        I'm at nearly 90 hours in Tactics Ogre, and still loving it. And Dissidia 2 comes out next week, which likely will have a similarly high volume of awesome gameplay that seemingly never ends.

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        March 17, 2011 10:46 AM

        Deus Ex 3!

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      March 17, 2011 2:40 AM

      [deleted]

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      March 17, 2011 11:53 PM

      Yaaay Canada.

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