In May, the Embracer Group announced that it was acquiring Square Enix’s western studios – Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal – along with those studio’s IP, and in August, those acquisitions were formally finalized. Of course, given the fact that it is now no longer owned by Square Enix, it was expected that Square Enix Montreal would end up changing it’s name- which has now happened.
The studio has announced via a new official website that it has rebranded as Studio Onoma. The new brand will “serve as an umbrella to multiple products, programs, and initiatives, each with distinct personalities”, the studio says, which says it has designed itself “to be flexible to see us into the future, connect with multiple audiences, and not hinder us from expanding with the market.”
Why “Onoma” though?
“Onoma is Greek for name and names offer endless possibilities,” the studio explains. “Names breathe life into objects, persons, or concepts; bring them to the world – real or imagined. It is the start of a new experience, an invitation to go on a new journey. As game makers, we are creators of new experiences, of new paths.”
As Square Enix Montreal, the development team was focused almost entirely on producing mobile titles based on major properties, including games such as Lara Croft GO, Deus Ex GO, Hitman GO, Hitman Sniper, and Hitman Sniper: The Shadows.