Square Enix Montréal
A Canadian mobile-game studio known for adapting Square Enix properties into premium puzzle and free-to-play games.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Square Enix Montréal was a Canadian video-game developer established in Montreal in November 2011 by Square Enix Europe. It was created initially as a conventional, large-scale development studio intended to produce high-production-value games based on Square Enix intellectual property. Its first announced project was a new Hitman game for home consoles, planned in cooperation with IO Interactive. The studio was initially expected to grow to roughly 150 employees and was led at launch by Lee Singleton, formerly of Square Enix London Studios. The studio's direction changed substantially in 2013, when Square Enix assigned it to concentrate on mobile games. Work on the planned console Hitman project was quietly abandoned, while the remaining team adopted a smaller and more multidisciplinary development model. The studio proposed several mobile Hitman concepts, two of which became Hitman Go and Hitman: Sniper. Hitman Go, released in 2014, transformed the stealth series into a minimalist, turn-based puzzle game resembling a board game. Hitman: Sniper, released in 2015, used a more conventional mobile structure built around scoped shooting and ongoing player engagement. The creative and critical success of Hitman Go led Square Enix Montréal to develop a broader Go series based on other former Eidos Interactive properties. Lara Croft Go followed in 2015, translating Tomb Raider into a compact, turn-based puzzle format, and Deus Ex Go arrived in 2016 with a similar reinterpretation of Deus Ex. The Go games were praised for their visual design, controlled mechanics, and ability to preserve recognizable elements of major console franchises while creating experiences suited to touchscreens. Hitman: Sniper became the studio's principal commercial revenue source, while the Go games reached a wider audience and earned substantial critical recognition. After 2016, the studio moved away from premium puzzle games and toward free-to-play mobile development. This represented a new business phase intended to support larger teams, longer-running products, and recurring updates. Its workforce grew from about 40 people around the release of Deus Ex Go to approximately 170 by March 2021. The studio announced projects including Hitman Sniper Assassins and an augmented-reality Space Invaders game. In 2021, Square Enix also established Square Enix London Mobile, which later became associated with the Montreal operation and focused on publishing and external development for mobile projects. Embracer Group agreed in 2022 to acquire Square Enix Montréal and other Square Enix Europe assets for $300 million. The transaction closed on August 26, 2022, with the assets placed within CDE Entertainment. The Montreal studio was briefly rebranded Onoma in October 2022. CDE Entertainment announced the studio's impending closure on November 1, 2022, affecting approximately 200 employees across Onoma and an internal quality-assurance team. Some employees were expected to transfer to Eidos-Montréal. The studio's remaining mobile games, including Deus Ex Go, Space Invaders: Hidden Heroes, Arena Battle Champions, and Hitman Sniper: The Shadows, were subsequently scheduled for discontinuation in January 2023.
History
Square Enix Montréal was announced on November 21, 2011, as a new Square Enix Europe development studio in Montreal. Its original mandate was to create high-production-value console games based on established Square Enix intellectual property. Lee Singleton, previously associated with Square Enix London Studios, was appointed to lead the operation. The first planned project was a new Hitman title intended to be developed with support from IO Interactive. The studio began with only a small founding team but was designed to expand substantially. In 2013, Square Enix changed the studio's mandate and assigned it to mobile development. The planned console Hitman project was cancelled, and Patrick Naud became studio director. The transition reduced the emphasis on narrowly defined specialist roles and encouraged employees to work across design, programming, production, and other disciplines. The team explored several mobile Hitman concepts, producing two distinct products: Hitman Go, a carefully designed turn-based puzzle game, and Hitman: Sniper, a more conventional mobile shooting title. Hitman Go launched in 2014 and became the foundation for a series of mobile adaptations of former Eidos Interactive properties. Lara Croft Go followed in 2015, and Deus Ex Go in 2016. Each title used a minimalist board-like presentation and touchscreen controls to reinterpret the core identity of a larger console franchise. The games received strong critical responses and awards, while Hitman: Sniper became a more important source of commercial revenue. The studio viewed this combination of major intellectual property and small-team experimentation as a distinctive position between AAA publishing and independent mobile development. After Deus Ex Go, Square Enix Montréal increasingly prioritized free-to-play games and ongoing-service models. Studio leadership described this as a new phase of development intended to address the limited reach and commercial constraints of premium mobile games. The workforce expanded from approximately 40 people during the Go period to around 170 by March 2021. Projects announced during this period included Hitman Sniper Assassins and an augmented-reality Space Invaders game. Square Enix also created Square Enix London Mobile in 2021, a London-based operation focused on publishing and external development that later became connected with the Montreal studio. In May 2022, Embracer Group agreed to purchase Square Enix Montréal and other Square Enix Europe assets. The transaction was completed on August 26, 2022, under CDE Entertainment. The Montreal studio adopted the name Onoma in October after a rebranding exercise. The new identity was intended to support a broader range of products and initiatives outside the Square Enix corporate structure. The rebranded operation was short-lived. On November 1, 2022, CDE Entertainment announced that Onoma would close along with its internal quality-assurance team, affecting about 200 employees. CDE leadership cited the opportunity to concentrate on AAA development at other studios, particularly Eidos-Montréal and Crystal Dynamics. Some Onoma employees were offered transfers to Eidos-Montréal. In November, the studio also announced that several mobile games would be discontinued in January 2023. Square Enix Montréal therefore ended operations less than a year after its acquisition and rebranding.
- 2022
Acquisition, rebrand, and closure
[1]Embracer completed its acquisition of the studio, which became Onoma before CDE Entertainment announced its closure later the same year.
- 2021
Mobile expansion
[1]The studio reported substantial staff growth and announced new Hitman and Space Invaders mobile projects.
- 2018
Go series development ends
[1]Patrick Naud said the studio had moved on from the Go series and was focusing on new mobile opportunities.
- 2016
Deus Ex Go released
[1]Deus Ex Go completed the studio's initial trilogy of premium Go adaptations.
- 2015
Hitman: Sniper and Lara Croft Go released
[1]The studio expanded both its conventional mobile shooting work and its Go puzzle-game format.
- 2014
Hitman Go released
[1]Hitman Go introduced the studio's board-game-inspired, turn-based mobile design approach.
- 2013
Mobile pivot
[1]The studio changed direction from console development to mobile games and began developing Hitman concepts for smartphones and tablets.
- 2011
Studio founded
[1]Square Enix announced Square Enix Montréal as a new Canadian studio intended initially to develop high-production-value console games.
Products and positioning
A mobile specialist combining the recognizable intellectual property and production resources of a major publisher with the compact teams, experimentation, and focused interaction design associated with independent studios.
Mobile turn-based puzzle game · 2014
Hitman Go
A minimalist mobile puzzle adaptation of Hitman. Instead of simulating open-ended stealth environments, it presents Agent 47 and opposing characters as pieces on compact board-like levels. Players solve turn-based movement puzzles while managing enemy patterns, disguises, weapons, and objectives. Its restrained presentation and carefully authored levels established the design language later used across the Go series.
Mobile shooting game · 2015
Hitman: Sniper
A mobile Hitman game centered on shooting targets from a fixed sniper position. It used score competition, target selection, environmental interaction, and repeatable challenges to create a more persistent mobile experience than the premium Go games. The title became an important commercial contributor for Square Enix Montréal and helped demonstrate the studio's ability to operate beyond handcrafted puzzle campaigns.
Mobile turn-based puzzle game · 2015
Lara Croft Go
A Tomb Raider adaptation built around the Go series' turn-based puzzle structure. Lara moves through stylized ruins and other compact environments, solving spatial challenges, avoiding hazards, and confronting enemies through carefully sequenced actions. The game translated exploration, traps, collectibles, and combat from the Tomb Raider identity into a highly controlled touchscreen format.
Mobile turn-based puzzle game · 2016
Deus Ex Go
A turn-based Deus Ex adaptation that combined the Go series' compact puzzle boards with themes and mechanics associated with the cyberpunk role-playing franchise. Players navigate security systems, enemies, and level-specific obstacles while using a simplified version of Deus Ex's stealth and augmentation concepts. Its development brought together staff from the studio's puzzle and ongoing-service traditions.
Mobile shooting game
Hitman Sniper Assassins
A planned Hitman mobile project announced by Square Enix Montréal in 2021. Public information identified it as a new entry related to the studio's sniper work, but the available reference material does not establish a completed commercial release under this name.
Augmented-reality mobile game
Space Invaders: Hidden Heroes
An augmented-reality mobile adaptation of Taito's Space Invaders announced by the studio. The game was among the products later listed for discontinuation following the closure of Onoma.
Brand decisions
2022
Acquisition by Embracer GroupM&ABackground
Square Enix sought to sell several Square Enix Europe assets, including its Montreal mobile studio.
Action taken
Embracer Group agreed to acquire the assets for $300 million, with the transaction completed on August 26, 2022, under CDE Entertainment.
Aftermath
The studio was separated from the Square Enix group, rebranded Onoma, and closed later in 2022.
Acquisition price. $300 million (Announced May 2022; completed August 26, 2022)
2022
Closure of OnomaStrategyBackground
After the acquisition and rebranding, CDE Entertainment reviewed its mobile operations and identified greater growth opportunities in AAA development elsewhere in the group.
Action taken
CDE Entertainment announced the closure of Onoma and its internal quality-assurance team.
Aftermath
Approximately 200 positions were affected, some employees were expected to transfer to Eidos-Montréal, and several mobile games were scheduled to shut down in January 2023.
2016
Move toward free-to-play developmentStrategyBackground
The studio's premium Go games were critically successful but reached a comparatively limited portion of the mobile audience because of their pricing model.
Action taken
Square Enix Montréal began emphasizing free-to-play games and ongoing updates rather than continuing to develop premium Go titles.
Aftermath
The studio entered a larger-scale growth phase, expanded its workforce, and pursued new Hitman and licensed mobile projects.
2013
Pivot from console development to mobile gamesStrategyBackground
The studio had been formed to create a new console Hitman project, but Square Enix decided that it should serve as a mobile-focused development operation.
Action taken
Square Enix Montréal cancelled its original console project and redirected its staff and production process toward mobile Hitman prototypes.
Aftermath
The pivot produced Hitman Go and Hitman: Sniper, established the Go series, and permanently defined the studio's identity as a mobile developer.
Recent events
- 2022
Embracer Group agrees to acquire Square Enix Montréal[1]
M&A
Embracer Group announced an agreement to acquire Square Enix Montréal and other Square Enix Europe assets for $300 million.
- 2022
Square Enix Montréal is rebranded Onoma[1]
Other · M&A
Following the acquisition, the studio was publicly rebranded Onoma as part of CDE Entertainment.
- 2022
Onoma closure announced[1]
Bankruptcy · Leadership change
CDE Entertainment announced the closure of Onoma and an internal quality-assurance team, affecting approximately 200 employees. Some staff were expected to transfer to Eidos-Montréal.
- 2022
Several Onoma mobile games scheduled for discontinuation[1]
Other · Product generation
The studio announced that Deus Ex Go, Space Invaders: Hidden Heroes, Arena Battle Champions, and Hitman Sniper: The Shadows would be discontinued in January 2023.
- 2021
Square Enix Montréal announces new mobile projects[1]
Product launch
The studio announced Hitman Sniper Assassins and an augmented-reality Space Invaders adaptation while expanding its mobile operations.
- 2016
Studio shifts toward free-to-play games[1]
Other
Following the Go series, the studio began emphasizing free-to-play mobile products and longer-term engagement models.
- 2015
Hitman: Sniper launches[1]
Product launch
The studio released a mobile sniper game that became an important commercial contributor to the business.
- 2015
Lara Croft Go and Deus Ex Go extend the Go series[1]
Product launch
The studio applied its turn-based puzzle formula to Tomb Raider and Deus Ex, with Lara Croft Go released in 2015 and Deus Ex Go in 2016.
- 2014
Hitman Go launches[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The studio released a turn-based, board-game-inspired mobile interpretation of Hitman that established the Go series.
- 2013
Montreal studio pivots to mobile development[1]
Other
Square Enix redirected the studio from planned console development toward mobile games, leading to the cancellation of its original console Hitman project.
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