The studio famously responsible for the final chapter of the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy, Eidos-Montréal, has been quietly developing a massive, new open-world action-adventure game since 2019, according to recent industry reports. While the studio is known for its work on the Deus Ex franchise and the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, this unannounced project, reportedly six years in the making, marks a significant, long-term commitment to a new AAA title.
This project is a separate entity from the officially announced, next mainline Tomb Raider game, which is being spearheaded by Crystal Dynamics in partnership with Amazon Games. The confusion is understandable, as Eidos-Montréal acted as the lead developer on 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider and is often associated with the franchise. However, this new, in-development title solidifies Eidos-Montréal’s position as a creator of ambitious, large-scale third-person experiences outside of its established intellectual properties.
The Scale and Scope of the New IP
The game is described as a AAA third-person, open-world action-adventure title. The sheer length of its development cycle—starting in 2019—suggests a project of immense scale and complexity. For context, Eidos-Montréal has released Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and worked on multiple other titles since this new IP began conceptualization, underscoring the studio’s dedication to this long-running, secret project. Internally, the game has been referred to by the codename “P11” (Project 11), indicating the sheer volume of projects the studio has handled over the years.
While concrete details about the setting or specific gameplay mechanics remain scarce, the studio’s pedigree points toward a narrative-heavy experience with robust action elements. Eidos-Montréal has a history of creating detailed hub worlds (like the hidden city of Paititi in Shadow of the Tomb Raider or the various locations in Deus Ex), and translating this expertise into a full-fledged open-world environment is a natural progression. Job listings associated with the project have hinted at a focus on villages and civilized zones, suggesting a world populated with non-playable characters and various interactions, as well as environmental puzzles, combat, and platforming—hallmarks of their previous work.
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Navigating Studio Changes and Project Status
The prolonged development of this unannounced game has occurred against a backdrop of significant corporate shifts. In 2022, Eidos-Montréal, along with parent company Square Enix Montréal and IP like Tomb Raider, was acquired by the Embracer Group. The subsequent years have seen industry-wide restructurings and layoffs, unfortunately affecting Eidos-Montréal and leading to the cancellation of other, separate projects, including a Deus Ex revival and a Legacy of Kain soft-reboot.
Crucially, reports suggest that this massive open-world game, “P11,” has remained a high priority, surviving the recent, painful cuts. Insider information indicates that the project’s conceptualization, systems, and design phases are largely complete, and the team is now “ramping down” the headcount as the game gears up for its beta phase. This typically signals a transition from heavy conceptual and building work to focused bug-fixing and polishing.
Anticipation and Expected Reveal
With the project in development since 2019, and the core development team being the same one that worked on Shadow of the Tomb Raider, there is significant anticipation for its eventual reveal. The game is reportedly scheduled to launch in 2026.
Given the high-profile nature of an action-adventure project coming from a studio with Eidos-Montréal’s track record—which is known for delivering polished experiences and engaging narratives—an announcement at a major industry event, such as The Game Awards or a dedicated showcase, is highly anticipated, possibly very soon. This new project offers an exciting glimpse into the future of Eidos-Montréal, allowing the creative team to step out from behind established franchises and potentially launch a blockbuster new IP on current and next-generation consoles.
