As more and more publishers make the move to create development studios in Canadian cities, Square-Enix is reportedly the latest to be on the verge of expanding operations into the cheaper Great White North.

According to Montreal newspaper La Presse, Square is actively pursuing a new 100-plus employee branch in either Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto, which would compliment Deus Ex and Thief developer Eidos Montreal, now a subsidiary. This new studio would also reportedly collaborate with the neighboring Eidos team.

Square is expected to make their location decision sometime in the next two months, and depending on how plans work out, open doors on the studio in 2012. Interestingly, it’s said this office would — no doubt in addition to current platforms — work on projects for  “the new consoles from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.”

Also on the Square-Enix front, anticipated but still-unannounced Hitman 5, coming from IO Interactive, has popped up yet again. After word that the sequel would not be hitting until 2012, an apparent ARG has gone live, teasing a likely E3 announcement, which many expected last year.

Faircount Media Group, during the Sundance Film Festival, quietly had some Hitman-related marketing materials present, initiating a bit of detective work eventually pointing towards June’s E3 Expo — for some reason. Or at least some summer-based event.

Just get on with it, Square and IO. Deliver the goods already.

 


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