Cyanide Opens Montreal Studio

French development studio Amusement Cyanide (Pro Cycling Manager, Loki) has announced it is opening a studio in Montreal with the aim of expanding into the North American market. According to the company, which was supported by Montreal International in setting up in the region, the new studio plans to hire approximately 65 new employees over the next three years. In addition to stepping up its hiring efforts and releases, Cynanide highlighted its goal of building strong teams of new employees. Cyanide general manager Fabrice Granger said, "We hope to maximize on the synergy and dialogue between team members, such that they can all have an overall vision of the project and have a real impact on its development." According to Granger, the development studio's "infatuation" with Montreal stems from the advantages of a bilingual workforce, proximity to the United States, and a rapidly-expanding games business that began with the arrival of companies like Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and A2M in the region. Cynanide cites figures that pegs the games industry in Montreal as comprised of over 50 companies and some 5,000 employees. Pierre Brunet, Chairman of Montreal International's board of directors, commented, "The arrival of Cyanide in Montreal unquestionably confirms Greater Montreal's leadership in the strategic multimedia and interactive entertainment sector."