A potential revival of the beloved Legacy of Kain series by Eidos Montreal was reportedly in development as a ‘Dark Fantasy ARPG’ before being scrapped. The project, internally codenamed P16, was canceled shortly after Embracer Group’s acquisition of the studio, with the intellectual property being returned to Crystal Dynamics. This cancellation is understood to be several years old and unrelated to recent layoffs.
Key Takeaways
- Eidos Montreal was developing a Legacy of Kain reboot.
- The project was described as a ‘Dark Fantasy ARPG’ with a focus on melee combat and parkour.
- Development was halted about a year in, following Embracer’s acquisition of the studio.
- The Legacy of Kain IP was returned to Crystal Dynamics, with no known further development.
- This cancellation is part of a larger trend of project cancellations at Eidos Montreal.
A Glimpse of a Forgotten Future
Evidence from the CVs of former Eidos Montreal employees suggests the studio was actively working on a reboot of the Legacy of Kain franchise. This ambitious project was envisioned as a dark fantasy action role-playing game, emphasizing fluid melee combat and parkour mechanics. Despite only being in development for approximately one year, the game had reportedly achieved some basic gameplay functionality.
The Impact of the Embracer Buyout
The cancellation of the Legacy of Kain reboot, codenamed P16, occurred shortly after Embracer Group’s acquisition of Eidos Montreal. Sources indicate that Embracer decided to pull the plug on the project, returning the rights to the Legacy of Kain IP back to Crystal Dynamics. It remains unclear if Crystal Dynamics has pursued any development with the franchise since its return.
Broader Studio Challenges
The Legacy of Kain reboot is not an isolated incident; Eidos Montreal has faced the cancellation of numerous projects, estimated to be between seven and eight, in recent years. The studio has reportedly been steered towards an outsourcing role, contributing to titles like Grounded 2 and Fable. Furthermore, developers were allegedly asked to work on Hideo Kojima’s Overdose, a request that was declined due to the requirement for some staff to relocate to Japan.
Currently, Eidos Montreal is invested in a significant internal project that began around 2019, with hundreds of millions of dollars poured into its development. However, sources suggest that recouping this substantial investment is unlikely. Despite the immense financial commitment, the project is deemed too far along to be canceled. The ongoing layoffs and the cancellation of previous projects paint a potentially grim picture for the future of Eidos Montreal.
