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Deus Ex and Saints Row Headline Embracer Plan to Revive Dormant IPs
On May 20, 2026, Embracer Group officially released its full-year 2025/26 financial report, which includes a plan to activate its idle franchises like Deus Ex, Saints Row, and Legacy of Kain.
Key Takeaways
- Embracer Group is shifting its core focus from buying new studios to actively capitalizing on its existing, underleveraged brand equity.
- Classic dormant franchises specifically highlighted for activation include Deus Ex, Saints Row, Thief, Red Faction, and TimeSplitters.
- The initiative targets potential sequels, remakes, or remasters optimized for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Embracer Group has signalled its intent to “activate” several IPs that currently have no active development, including for its Thief, Red Faction, Saints Row, and Deus Ex IPs.
The news comes from Embracer’s recent financial update, spotted by Insider Gaming, which also mentions a plan to push several IPs through its Fellowship entertainment side, including through IPs such as The Lord of the Rings, Tomb Raider, Metro, and Dead Island.
Which Dormant Franchises Are Returning to the Market?
Embracer Group is officially shifting focus toward Deus Ex, Saints Row, and TimeSplitters as part of its internal restructuring.
These three franchises have been specifically highlighted as “underleveraged brand equity” in the company’s full-year 2025/26 financial presentation, signaling a possible active development plan for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Following years of aggressive studio acquisition, the publisher is now looking inward. The latest financial roadmap outlines a clear mandate to revitalize recognizable names.
Tracking Embracer’s Legacy IP Portfolio
The current state of these properties provides crucial context for the new roadmap. Each of these titles has experienced extended periods of inactivity, often due to studio closures or shifting market priorities over the last decade.
Understanding the historical timeline explains why Embracer considers them dormant. The gap between releases highlights the potential for renewed interest from both veteran fans and newer audiences looking for classic gameplay formats.
Deus Ex saw its last mainline entry with Mankind Divided in 2016 from Eidos-Montréal. The Saints Row franchise was most recently handled by Volition with its 2022 reboot, while TimeSplitters has remained dormant since Free Radical Design’s Future Perfect in 2005.
These gaps in the release schedule present a unique opportunity. Embracer’s strategy now centers on leveraging the built-in audience awareness of these brands rather than spending heavily on marketing entirely new names.
What Does This Strategic Shift Mean for Players?
The era of constant studio buyouts has ended, making way for internal, IP-driven development utilizing the assets they already own.
For the player base, this means classic franchises will likely see remasters, remakes, or full sequels in the coming years on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Fueled by a passion for gaming and the ever-evolving world of gaming news, Daniel loves connecting with seasoned and new players to bring games to life on the page, exploring their narratives and gaming trends. A self-published fiction and fantasy author, Daniel has nearly 20 years of experience writing gaming news and a love for storytelling that drives his enthusiasm to deliver breaking news, in-depth analysis, and industry innovations. You will find him in-game as "Windfell."
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