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Bandai Namco has confirmed that Reflector Entertainment is shutting down. This studio was acquired by Bandai Namco in September 2020, and it’s highly renowned for Unknown 9: Awakening. According to the official statement, the decision was made after the Montreal-based studio reviewed its future plans and the money needed to keep it running.
Bandai Namco said it will liquidate and dissolve the gaming studio as it failed to justify spending more money and several years on the Reflector’s next project. The company has not shared a final date for the shutdown, as the process will depend on local legal steps.
Additionally, the gaming studio is expected to face a loss of around 21 million euros for the closure. This decision is another instance added to the growing tension of job cuts and studio closures in the gaming industry. However, this decision wasn’t a sudden one.
The problems started long before the shutdown announcement. First, Reflector cut around 18% of its jobs in 2024, soon after Unknown 9: Awakening was released. Another wave of job cuts hit the studio in January 2025. This one came after an unannounced game got canceled.
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In the gaming universe, the contribution of Montreal is significant. Several gaming giants are located here, with loads of talented professionals. However, Reflector’s closure adds to the pressure on the local gaming scene. When a studio closes, the entire workforce becomes jobless in an instant. Multiple projects that were under development never reached their climax. While other companies could hire some of these developers, finding a new job may take time.
Reflector's shutdown shows how difficult it can be for a game studio to survive when its projects fail to meet expectations. For its employees, the focus will now be on finding new jobs and moving forward.