Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Square Enix retires Eidos publishing label

Japanese pub consolidates operations in Europe and NA, confirming some headcount reduction; British company's name will live on through dev studios.

At the end of April, Square Enix concluded its acquisition of Eidos Interactive, a British publishing house that had fallen on hard economic times despite owning a number of top gaming properties. As part of the £84.3 million ($136 million) deal, Eidos was folded into the Square Enix Group, which also includes Square Enix's global game development-publishing arm, as well as 2005 acquisition Taito.

Lara Croft takes one more step toward a Kingdom Hearts cameo.

Lara Croft takes one more step toward a Kingdom Hearts cameo.

Today, Square Enix revealed one more step in integrating Eidos into its global organization with the formation of Square Enix Europe (a moniker still to be finalized). Current Eidos CEO Phil Rogers will head up Square Enix Europe, and John Yamamoto will continue to lead Square Enix's North American arm.

As detailed in a statement provided to UK-based gaming site CVG, the new publishing label will combine Square Enix and Eidos' European publishing labels. Eidos' North American operations have also been impacted by this move, with the publisher saying that all publishing duties have been transferred to Square Enix in the region.

As a result of the move, Square Enix will be retiring the Eidos publishing label, though the venerable name will live on through the company's various development outfits. Square Enix also confirmed that the restructuring will result in an unspecified number of layoffs as redundant positions are consolidated in both Europe and North America.

172 Comments

  • dharmang1910

    Posted Jul 30, 2010 11:57 am GMT

    I would very happy if eidos take over square enix instead of this!!!!!

  • jibaro_geo

    Posted Apr 8, 2010 2:12 pm GMT

    Square dominated with their own franchise realm, mostly RPG. Owning now the EIDOS action IP's is as an expansion to their realm. But the question to ask is... would the future EIDOS games will retain the same grade of excitement & uniqueness.. Or we would be looking to new "good & nicer" teen de-graded Hitman & T.R. versions?

  • account_007

    Posted Feb 18, 2010 5:18 pm GMT

    I know what you mean, it seems like all the fields of entertainment are being effected in this way. (Disney buying out Marvel) It is saddening to see these things happen because it takes away from something unique.

  • neuroboy

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 4:09 pm GMT

    Are there any 'independent' developers or publishers left in the UK that haven't been swallowed up by the US/European/Japanese MDCs? Seems like everything is owned by about 3 corporations these days.

  • S3P4eeever

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 10:02 pm GMT

    bad for eidos good for games

  • ceremiev

    Posted Nov 16, 2009 3:52 pm GMT

    Tombraider RPG? Huaaaaagggggggggg

  • JOKER677

    Posted Nov 4, 2009 2:47 pm GMT

    time splitters

  • lecter38

    Posted Sep 21, 2009 6:25 am GMT

    Thats realy sad, the eidos label was behind such great games; thief. soul reaver. hitman, and tomb raider.

  • Cygnus421

    Posted Sep 8, 2009 11:20 pm GMT

    Hitman: Midgar. I'm pretty sure thats why they merged.

  • FF_fan2004

    Posted Aug 17, 2009 3:54 pm GMT

    Sounds to me that Square Enix is turning into a "dying hippo" in a sort of business term. Much like Disney and they bought in Pixar to sustain itself. Now a merged company as big as Square Enix needs Eidos to sustain itself. I definitely resent them dropping the Eidos label, a lot of really good games have been out over the years under that name.

  • MERGATROYDER

    Posted Aug 12, 2009 4:21 am GMT

    Bring on Thief 4 betchis!

  • bluenosepunk

    Posted Aug 7, 2009 10:46 pm GMT

    I personally don't think that there's anything to worry about,though I've always loved the hitman games and don't want anything bad to happen to them.What we have to remember here is that they bought them for a reason,they have talented developers who make good games.Why would they want to disrupt that?

  • MQ7

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 3:42 am GMT

    i really want a hitman game on the ps3?
    does anyone know when the new hitman is coming out?

  • MQ7

    Posted Aug 4, 2009 3:41 am GMT

    i really liked bloodmoney on the ps2

  • starduke

    Posted Jul 30, 2009 12:56 pm GMT

    I know, they could make a Hitman game where 47 goes after all of the bosses from Final Fantasy. "47, our client wants you to take out a man called Kefka. According to our client he's totally insane and wants to destroy the world."

  • starduke

    Posted Jul 30, 2009 12:35 pm GMT

    So, Square took over Edios and is now getting rid of the name. That's stupid, Edios is a name associated with a lot of great games, so that name has street cred. All Square is know for is Final Fantasy and Kindom Hearts.
    Well, maybe somthing good could come of this...I hope.

  • green_dominator

    Posted Jul 27, 2009 8:30 am GMT

    It seemed that all Eidos was doing is planting their name everywhere......that said, I'm not a fan at all of Square/Enix.....
    I'm not a big fan of Japanese Rpg's, Bioware does it better lol
    all I can say is I hope Hitman isn't affected by this merger......

  • revway

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 11:35 am GMT

    Square Enix means nothing to me, Eidos, however, does.

  • Detrun

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 6:11 am GMT

    I know it's already been said but I would love to see a new Legacy of Kain game or a more RPG type version of the franchise!

  • shawnyboy12

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 4:15 am GMT

    Eidos was awesome. I never played any of those Tomb Raider games except the earlier ones but Thief: The Dark Project was enough to redeem them (not financially) in my opinion. I hope this doesn't effect Thief 4 in any way... I can't wait.

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 8:56 am GMT

    I'd like to see a collabo between the east and the west for a Tomb Raider games.

  • halremawa

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 8:37 am GMT

    FEAR EFFECT PLZZZZ

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 7:28 am GMT

    should have kept the edios name and retired the squneenix brand edios has a better record of not cranking out the same boring turn based garbage rpgs for the last 15 years.

  • Blu-Fan-Boy

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 3:05 am GMT

    Kingdom Hearts: Curse of the Kings Tomb loooooool

  • parhar67

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 10:59 pm GMT

    RIP eidos had some fun with your earlier gen games

  • diogocs94

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 1:24 pm GMT

    I want to see a tomb-raider free-world to explore, Square Enix, please.

  • goodwillhunter

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 12:05 pm GMT

    wow never new square was that big of a company in my oppinion eidos wasnt very great

  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 10:55 am GMT

    Eidos was always good but there was always something missing. It'd be funny to see a violent Kingdom Hearts.

  • Lyca

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 6:49 am GMT

    Company consolidation = layoffs, it always has. This way the fat cats stay fat and the poor folk get...well you know the rest. This is a great advert for future talanted games developers in the UK as they will be knocking themselves out to get into this sector. NOT.

  • Bigboss232

    Posted Jul 11, 2009 1:12 am GMT

    Where is Leagacy of kain and Hit man wth

  • Necros_21

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 10:07 pm GMT

    I just wish they'd let Eidos Montreal talk about Deus Ex 3 and Thief 4... We need more info!

    Sad to see the Eidos logo go but I guess it's still better than nothing.

  • pureskull123

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 7:33 pm GMT

    lol a hitman with the looks of final fantasy. super fail warrants a steal or piracy.

  • Suicide-Panda

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 11:16 am GMT

    meh, personnally i hate eidos, games like conflict denied ops were terrible

  • xunhallowed

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 9:47 am GMT

    @pakhair

    For some reason I got the impression that you were hating on Square Enix, my bad.

    I personally love Square Enix and hate Eidos, and I'm American, so take that for what you will, sorry about the comment.

  • Odraude5

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 8:07 am GMT

    hell yea pakhair

  • joynul

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 6:49 am GMT

    Whos cares about a name change just get on with making a smash hit tomb raider and Hitman. Then we can judge whether it was a good move by Square Enix or not. At least we know the story will be better (well I hope).

  • Excedra

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 2:59 am GMT

    thats good news

  • bao_bao

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:33 am GMT

    @ Pakhair i fully agree with you!!!! Its the same in most of asia not only in Japan. Dissidia 2 with special guess Lara Croft ^_^

  • pakhair

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:10 am GMT

    @xunhallowed

    I'm not trying flaming or trolling, im only giving my opinion, I'm an Asian & I know what our ppl like, most of times it slow & rpg type. Many ppl don't like action oriented games in japan. SE is Japanese company, So there games are highly Japanese influenced, Eidos games were made for American audience, So my point is that they shouldn't introduce Japanese elements in eidos games.

    SIMPLE ...............

  • ldonyo

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 9:14 pm GMT

    Sounds like a marketing mistake. Eidos has a lot of name recognition with gamers outside of Japan, especially for the Tomb Raider and Hitman fans.

  • TheBloodRed

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 8:19 pm GMT

    I predict a much better Tomb Raider game coming in the future... but what of Crystal Dynamics? They are a part of Eidos but what if SE wants to push them off and do all the developing themselves?

  • Setsuka13

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 6:53 pm GMT

    Well Square Enix is big. They should be just fine.

  • Irishhitman27

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 6:26 pm GMT

    wow eidos made some pretty good games, but Hitman is still in it and I hope these new guys step up to the plate

  • SonicRaptor

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:56 pm GMT

    As long as they keep the anime out of Hitman: I'm happy.

  • Gblazer01

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 5:06 pm GMT

    NO!!!! T_T that kinda sucks.man, i remember playing the soul reaver games on the dreamcast like all day, good times....an im going to miss them...farewell eidos, u had a good run.

  • xabalba

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 4:50 pm GMT

    plzzz don't cancel deus ex 3, i'm begging u

  • marz311

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 4:25 pm GMT

    Hopefully they don't cancel Deus Ex 3, that would be horrible.

  • Dreski83

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 3:32 pm GMT

    If they are kicking the original company name aside, Square Enix will likely do the same to well known franchises from Eidos... that really sucks...

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Jul 9, 2009 2:07 pm GMT

    MidnightKilla

    "A sad day indeed...

    Deus Ex 3 was announced awhile ago, why hasn't there been any news on it? I hope sure Square doesn't sully it with their grubby jrpg fingers."

    I absoloutely agree, same with Hitman 5 and Thief 4.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Tomb Raider: Underworld

Tomb Raider: Underworld Boxshot
Follow:
  1. Not Following
    Xbox 360: Follow
  2. Not Following
    PC: Follow
  3. Not Following
    PlayStation 3: Follow
  4. Not Following
    Wii: Follow
  5. Not Following
    DS: Follow
  6. Not Following
    Mobile: Follow
  7. Not Following
    PlayStation 2: Follow
Add to List
  1. Xbox 360
  2. PC
  3. PlayStation 3
  4. Wii
  5. DS
  6. Mobile
  7. PlayStation 2

Follow for the latest news, videos, & tips from experts & insiders

GameSpot Fuse
    Platforms:

    Related Games

    Site Blogs