Square Enix Montreal

Square Enix Montréal

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Video games
Founded	November 21, 2011 (2011-11-21) in Montreal, Canada
Founder	Lee Singleton
Defunct	November 2022 (2022-11)
Fate	Closed after acquisition by Embracer Group; briefly renamed Onoma
Headquarters	Montreal , Canada
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Lee Singleton (founder), Patrick Naud (director/CEO)
Products	Go series (Hitman Go, Lara Croft Go, Deus Ex Go), Hitman: Sniper, Space Invaders: Hidden Heroes, Hitman Sniper: The Shadows, Arena Battle Champions
Number of employees	Approximately 160 (2022) (2022)
Parent	Square Enix Europe (2011–2022), Embracer Group (2022)

Square Enix Montréal was a Canadian video game developer headquartered in Montreal. The studio was known for producing the Go series, a collection of turn-based puzzle games for mobile devices derived from intellectual properties originally owned by Eidos Interactive.

Established in November 2011 as a conventional development studio under the umbrella of Square Enix Europe, Square Enix Montréal initially aimed to create a new Hitman title for consoles and envisioned employing several hundred staff members. However, in 2013, its parent company redirected its priorities toward mobile gaming. The studio experimented with two mobile Hitman concepts, which evolved into the board game-inspired puzzle Hitman Go (2014) and the shooter Hitman: Sniper (2015). The commercial triumph of Hitman: Sniper and the critical success of Hitman Go paved the way for two additional entries in the Go lineup: Lara Croft Go (2015), based on the Tomb Raider franchise, and Deus Ex Go (2016), inspired by Deus Ex. Post-2016, the studio concentrated on developing free-to-play titles and later incorporated the London-based Square Enix London Mobile branch, founded in 2021.

In August 2022, Embracer Group acquired Square Enix Montréal along with other assets from Square Enix Europe, forming CDE Entertainment. The studio briefly adopted the name Onoma in October 2022 before ceasing operations the following month.

Establishment and Early Years (2011–2013)

On November 21, 2011, Square Enix announced the creation of Square Enix Montréal, targeting a 2012 launch with an initial team of 150 employees led by Lee Singleton, formerly general manager at Square Enix London Studios. The new entity was tasked with producing high-budget (AAA) titles utilizing Square Enix’s intellectual properties. Its inaugural project involved developing a new console-based Hitman game in collaboration with Danish subsidiary IO Interactive, the original creators of the series and developers behind Hitman: Absolution (2012). Beginning with a core group of four—Singleton plus three developers from IO Interactive—the studio planned to expand beyond this initial team to multiple projects and reach up to 150 personnel. Singleton emphasized prioritizing a deliberate design process without rushing development milestones. Additionally, the studio benefited from financial support provided by the Quebecois government.

Transition to Mobile and the Go Series (2013–2016)

After organizational changes in 2013, Square Enix Montréal shifted its focus toward mobile game development, concentrating on tablet platforms and continuing work within the Hitman universe. Patrick Naud assumed leadership as director, while the console Hitman project was canceled and taken over by IO Interactive. This pivot led to many staff departing for AAA roles elsewhere; those who remained adapted to a more versatile approach suitable for smaller teams. Within two weeks of brainstorming design concepts, the studio released Hitman Go (2014) followed by Hitman: Sniper (2015). The former launched the Go series—a collection of turn-based puzzles inspired by board games—while the latter was a conventional mobile shooter that became their main source of revenue.

This strategy diverged from prevailing industry trends that favored free-to-play mechanics, creating an internal tension between indie-style craftsmanship and AAA production values. To bridge this gap, Deus Ex Go (2016) was developed by a team evenly divided between these two approaches, combining meticulous handcrafted design with ongoing content updates. At that point, approximately 40 employees worked in an office space designed for several hundred. Although future projects were not publicly disclosed, Square Enix’s direction indicated continued investment in mobile gaming. The studio also recruited indie developers such as Teddy Dief (known for Hyper Light Drifter) and Renaud Bédard (creator of Fez).

The Go series achieved both critical praise and commercial success. Ryan McCaffrey from IGN described the first two titles as the "smartest" mobile adaptations derived from console franchises, while Sam Loveridge of Digital Spy regarded the series as highly successful. These games distilled core gameplay elements from their respective franchises into minimalist puzzles resembling board games. Releases included Hitman Go (2014), Lara Croft Go (2015), and Deus Ex Go (2016). Documentary footage showcased their creative process. Compared to Sniper, these titles reached a broader audience, with half of players discovering them through App Store features or word-of-mouth recommendations. Square Enix Montréal attributed this success to merging resources from major franchises with the agility typical of indie-sized teams, effectively blending Square Enix’s AAA legacy with quality mobile experiences.

Free-to-play transition, acquisition, and shutdown (2016–2022)

Between 2016 and 2021, Square Enix Montréal redirected its efforts toward free-to-play titles, entering a "2.0" business phase that expanded its workforce from 40 employees to 170 by March 2021, with intentions for additional growth. Founder Dief exited the company in January 2018 following the cancellation of his project. By mid-2018, development on the Go series was halted due to underwhelming returns from premium mobile games despite earlier success. CEO Patrick Naud reaffirmed the studio’s dedication to delivering "high-end, high-quality pristine mobile experiences," utilizing both established and newly created intellectual properties.

In March 2021, the studio unveiled Hitman Sniper Assassins alongside an augmented reality adaptation of Space Invaders licensed from Taito. Later that year in October, Square Enix founded Square Enix London Mobile, which was subsequently integrated into Square Enix Montréal under Naud’s leadership. This division concentrated on publishing and external development partnerships, managing franchises such as Tomb Raider and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

In May 2022, Embracer Group agreed to purchase multiple Square Enix Europe assets—including Square Enix Montréal—for , with the studio employing approximately 160 staff across Montreal and London locations. As part of preparing for independence, an internal "Rebrand Squad" selected the name "Onoma" (derived from Greek meaning "name") to represent new beginnings. By August 2022, "Studio Onoma" was trademarked. The acquisition finalized on August 26 under Embracer’s CDE Entertainment division. The rebranding was publicly revealed in October as a strategic move to support diverse projects and ventures.

Nonetheless, on November 1, 2022, Embracer Group and CDE Entertainment announced the closure of Onoma along with its internal quality assurance department, affecting around 200 employees. CDE director Phil Rogers explained that growth opportunities at AAA studios Eidos-Montréal and Crystal Dynamics motivated this decision. Some Onoma personnel were offered positions at Eidos-Montréal. By November 23, the studio confirmed it would cease development on titles including Deus Ex Go, Space Invaders: Hidden Heroes, Arena Battle Champions, and Hitman Sniper: The Shadows, with all support ending in January 2023.

Games developed

Year	Title	Platform(s)
2014	Hitman Go	Android, iOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows, Windows Phone
2015	Hitman: Sniper	Android, iOS
	Lara Croft Go	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows, Windows Phone
2016	Deus Ex Go	Android, iOS, Windows, Windows Phone
2021	Space Invaders: Hidden Heroes	Android, iOS
2022	Hitman Sniper: The Shadows
	Arena Battle Champions