Deus Ex FAILED For This Reason

The Future of the Franchise

Which ways could the franchise take to return to prominence? With the original Deus Ex having turned twenty this year, now could be the time for a remake in the same vein as Resident Evil 2. A modern update with the same mechanics and style as the current titles would be an excellent direction to take. It would satisfy fans of the original while also introducing new players to the series.

Alternatively, we could see a straightforward continuation of Adam Jensen's story, one removed of the baggage that weighed down Mankind Divided. No micro-transactions and a better story with deeper characters are two key areas to focus on if Eidos Montreal is permitted to go down this route. There were many plot threads left hanging at the end of Mankind Divided, namely that the Illuminati now has their full attention directed towards the augmented protagonist.

Combine this with building on the same great gameplay of the 2016 release and you have a recipe for success. Sadly, Square Enix has instead sought to cash in on the rise of mediocre looter-shooters with Marvel's Avengers, leaving Deus Ex to languish in obscurity. It's a huge shame as the franchise really does deserve to be just as successful as its larger contemporaries. Collectively, it has now sold upwards of five million units, which still falls short of other more popular franchises.

In conclusion, despite its critical praise, the Deus Ex franchise failed because of poor business practices and an inability to bring its own brand of role-playing to a wider player base. But that's not to say it can't make a comeback in the future.