- Strategic Hub Expansion: The Montreal studio has officially transitioned from a support office to the lead developer on “Project Delta,” a high-budget action-adventure IP developed in collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment.
- Pipeline Optimization: Following the 2025 streamlining of projects Gemini and Bifrost, People Can Fly has narrowed its focus to 5-7 high-impact AAA titles to ensure fiscal stability in the 2026 market.
- Leadership Synergy: The studio remains under the guidance of Roland Lesterlin (Just Cause 3), leveraging Montreal’s elite talent pool to integrate advanced procedural destruction into their upcoming 2027 release window.
The skyline of Montreal’s Plateau-Mont-Royal district just gained a formidable new titan. In an industry defined by consolidation and cautious scaling, People Can Fly (PCF) has doubled down on its Canadian expansion, solidifying its Montreal studio as the vanguard for its most “highly ambitious” action-adventure title to date. This isn’t just another satellite office; it is a calculated move to harvest the world’s densest concentration of AAA talent during a pivotal 2026 recovery phase for the Polish developer.
The Montreal team, spearheaded by industry veterans Roland Lesterlin and David Grijns, is currently finalizing the foundational mechanics for a project that began in the New York office. This “groundbreaking” title is widely understood to be the focal point of PCF’s 2026-2028 roadmap, blending the visceral gunplay of Bulletstorm with the narrative depth required by modern prestige gaming. As the local industry matures, Montreal continues to attract giants, much like how The Outlast Trials has maintained its horror dominance by utilizing the same regional dev ecosystem.
2026 Studio Portfolio Analysis
Following a rigorous internal audit in late 2025, People Can Fly restructured its global operations. Here is the current distribution of their 5-7 active projects:
| Project Codename | Lead Studio | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Project Maverick | Warsaw / Newcastle | Alpha (Xbox Funded) |
| Project Delta | Montreal | Pre-Production (Sony) |
| Project Victoria | New York | Full Production |
The Montreal Pivot: Beyond Work-for-Hire
For years, People Can Fly was synonymous with Epic Games and Microsoft, delivering the cult-favorite Gears of War: Judgment. However, the 2026 landscape sees the company pivoting toward a hybrid model of self-publishing and strategic partnerships. The Montreal opening is central to this shift. By establishing a permanent foothold in Canada, PCF is attempting to shed its reputation as a “support studio” and emerge as a primary creative force capable of rivaling Ubisoft Montreal or Eidos.
The Montreal studio’s expertise is being funneled into what insiders call “Project Delta,” a prototype for a major Sony IP. While the studio previously celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022 with Outriders, the 2026 iteration of PCF is far more lean. The cancellation of Project Gemini (Square Enix) and Project Bifrost in 2025 forced a refocusing of resources, making the Montreal expansion a “all-in” bet on high-end action-adventure mechanics.
Integration of Advanced AI and Narrative Depth
Lesterlin’s experience directing Just Cause 3 suggests a focus on emergent gameplay and sandbox destruction—elements that are increasingly relevant as 2026 hardware like the PS5 Pro and updated Xbox Series consoles demand more than just visual fidelity. The Montreal team is reportedly leveraging new proprietary AI toolsets to enhance NPC behavior, much like the technical leaps seen in Dead by Daylight’s latest engine migrations.
“Montreal’s atmosphere and seasoned industry make this project extremely exciting. We believe PCF Montreal will soon play a major role in our global portfolio,” the company stated in a recent Investor Relations update.
The Microsoft & Sony Tightrope
One cannot discuss PCF’s Montreal move without addressing the “Project Maverick” elephant in the room. This $30-50 million Microsoft-funded project—rumored to be a Gears of War: E-Day expansion or a standalone spin-off—is being developed concurrently with the Montreal studio’s work. The ability to manage a massive Microsoft contract while simultaneously building a new AAA IP in Montreal demonstrates a level of operational maturity that was previously lacking during the Outriders launch era.
As the “Summer Transfer Meta” of developers continues to shift talent between studios, as highlighted in our FC 26 industry analysis, People Can Fly has positioned itself as an attractive destination for those fleeing the massive layoffs that plagued other Montreal-based developers in 2025. With a focus on stability and high-concept action, the Montreal studio isn’t just opening doors—it’s building the future of the PCF brand.
