Eidos Montreal has reportedly laid off staff members following the cancellation of an unannounced project codenamed 'Wildlands.' The decision brings an end to a title that had been in development since early 2019 and was known internally as 'P11'.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the project was cancelled due to a budget that spiraled to several hundred million dollars. Development was allegedly fraught with difficulties, including the use of four different game engines and conflicts regarding the narrative direction. The financial strain caused by 'Wildlands' reportedly contributed to the cancellation of other titles at the studio, including a new Deus Ex game planned for early 2024.
Gameplay and Development Details
Footage of the cancelled title reveals it was designed as an open-world, third-person action-adventure game. Players would have controlled a character named River, a teenager belonging to a group called the Spiritbounds. These characters utilized magical staffs to combat spirits and traveled the world on the back of mythical creatures. A key companion for the protagonist was a giant moose-like animal named Redheart, used for faster traversal.
Industry observers noted the game's aesthetic similarities to WiLD, another cancelled survival game. While the projects appeared similar, WiLD is believed to have been completely shelved.
A Late-Stage Cancellation
The cancellation has surprised industry analysts, as sources indicate 'Wildlands' was in the debugging phase and approaching a tentative release date for later this year. The project had recently passed key milestones. However, it appears the parent company, Embracer Group, determined that the escalating costs would not be recouped, resulting in the project's termination despite its near-complete status.
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