Report: Eidos To Shutter Marketing, PR, Sales Teams

According to a new report on consumer game website 1UP.com, Eidos is closing down its North American PR, marketing and sales departments as a condition of the financial infusion its parent company, SCi, has received from Warner Bros. As reported earlier today, SCi has received a major investment from Warner Bros. in the form of a stock purchase worth £60 million ($118.5 million), particularly referencing a 'strategic distribution agreement' to drive growth in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. As detailed by 1UP, the layoff of these departments of Eidos is "part of the deal with Warner Bros" - which has been rapidly expanding its U.S. game publishing and distribution presence, as recently showcased in a late 2007 Gamasutra interview with Warner Bros SVP Samantha Ryan. Earlier this year, SCi cut the company's worldwide workforce by 25% and discontinued development on 14 different game projects in an effort to stem the company's financial losses -- including a a £81.4 million ($161.18 million) deficit in second half of 2007 -- and refocus it on high profile games likely to generate a larger return. At press time, Eidos representatives were unavailable for comment - Gamasutra will update this story as more information becomes available.