Future Prospects for Franchises like Deus Ex and TimeSplitters

Embracer Group will split into two separate companies--Fellowship Entertainment and Embracer--in 2027, with the former focusing on major video game IPs like Lord of the Rings and Tomb Raiders.

While Fellowship Entertainment will prioritize franchises such as Lord of the Rings and Tomb Raiders, there will also be opportunities for other titles within the company to succeed. Embracer's chair of the board, Lars Wingefors, revealed plans to collaborate with partners on well-known IPs like Saints Row, Legacy of Kain, Deus Ex, Red Faction, The Mask, Thief, TimeSplitters, and more. Additionally, the company aims to work with partners on AAA franchises like Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Dead Island, Darksiders, Remnant, and Metro.

Recent attempts to revive Deus Ex were halted due to Embracer's cutbacks in 2024, leading to layoffs at Deus Ex developer Eidos-Montreal. In a related event, Saints Row director Chris Stockman expressed his belief that the franchise is defunct after Embracer ceased communication regarding revival efforts. Embracer's acquisition, Dark Horse Comics, will contribute to leveraging the company's IPs, emphasizing their history of co-producing film and TV projects in Hollywood.

Warhorse Studios, the developer behind Kingdom Come: Deliverance, announced during Embracer's investor presentation that they are creating an open-world Middle-earth RPG set in the Lord of the Rings universe. Warhorse is also working on a new Kingdom Come adventure, details of which are scarce. Embracer's upcoming release, Metro 2039, will mark the return of the Metro franchise after seven years, introducing a new protagonist. The game is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC this winter.