Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a 2016 action role-playing game created by Eidos-Montréal and published by Square Enix. It was released for Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in August 2016. Versions for Linux and macOS systems came out in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The game follows Deus Ex: Human Revolution and is the fourth game in the Deus Ex series. Players explore environments connected to Prague, complete quests, and gain experience to improve the main character’s abilities using Praxis Kits. Dialogue choices and actions influence how the story unfolds. A separate challenge mode called Breach, set in cyberspace, was later released as a free, standalone game.
The story takes place in 2029, two years after Human Revolution. The world is split between humans without artificial organs and those with advanced, controversial augmentations. After a violent event called the Aug Incident, augmented people are separated from others, leading to conflict and discrimination. The main character, Adam Jensen, has new augmentations and works as a double agent to uncover the Illuminati’s plans. The game explores themes of technology and discrimination within its cyberpunk setting and conspiracy storyline.
Production of Mankind Divided began after Human Revolution’s expansion, The Missing Link. Eidos-Montréal aimed to improve gameplay and address feedback from fans and critics. The game’s engine and graphics were rebuilt for newer hardware. A focus on realism and darker themes led to a more subdued color palette compared to earlier games. The score was composed by Michael McCann, who worked on Human Revolution, along with new contributors Sascha Dikiciyan and Ed Harrison.
The game was announced in 2015 after a long marketing campaign. Later slogans faced criticism, and a preorder system with different levels was canceled due to player complaints. Additional story-based content was released after launch in 2016. Critics praised the game’s story, graphics, and gameplay but noted its short campaign and handling of themes. While the game performed well initially, it was later reported to have lower-than-expected sales, leading to speculation that the series might be paused.
Gameplay
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is an action role-playing game that includes first-person shooting and stealth gameplay. Players control Adam Jensen, a character with mechanical parts called augmentations. The game’s settings include large open areas and more structured environments. Players explore these areas from a first-person perspective, but some actions, such as hiding, talking to characters, or performing attacks, switch to a third-person view. In these environments, players can interact with non-playable characters (NPCs) who help advance the main story or side quests. Completing quests or finding hidden areas gives Adam experience points (EXP), which are used to unlock Praxis Points. Praxis Points allow Adam to upgrade his abilities. Players can also purchase equipment, weapons, and materials from black-market vendors using in-game money called credits.
Players can choose different ways to complete tasks. A violent approach involves shooting enemies while using cover for protection. A stealthy approach avoids enemies by hiding behind objects and staying out of sight. Adam can also use melee attacks, which can be either lethal or non-lethal. He can move enemy bodies to hide them and avoid raising alarms. Augmentations, which improve Adam’s abilities, can be bought, found in the game, or unlocked by earning enough EXP. Some augmentations provide passive benefits, like better vision or damage resistance, while others offer active upgrades, such as increased strength or the ability to survive falls. Most augmentations depend on Adam’s energy level and stop working when energy is low. Some "experimental" augmentations require players to permanently disable another augmentation to prevent overheating.
Weapons, whether bought or taken from enemies, can be modified using parts found in the game. New tools, such as a multitool that unlocks devices, can be purchased or crafted using materials found in each area. Crafting sometimes requires blueprints discovered in the game world. Adam can hack devices in two ways. The first involves hacking static devices, like computers, which triggers a mini-game where players capture points to access the device. The second involves hacking interactive devices, like laser traps or robots, which requires solving a mini-game by activating zones on a graph within a time limit.
Adam can talk to NPCs to learn about the main story or side quests. Some conversations provide additional information about the game world. Players choose from different dialogue options, which affect the outcome of the story. Choosing the right option helps complete tasks, while wrong choices may block progress, requiring players to find alternative solutions. A "social" augmentation helps Adam better understand NPCs’ expressions and emotions, increasing the chance of selecting the correct dialogue. Some boss battles can be avoided by choosing the right dialogue options.
In Breach mode, players act as a hacker infiltrating the Palisade Bank to steal data from Deus Ex companies and escape within a time limit. This mode resembles an arcade game with a surreal, polygonal style. Players control an avatar with unique augmentations and navigate environments. The game’s enemies react differently based on how players approach each level. While Mankind Divided does not include multiplayer, Breach has leaderboards where players can compare scores online. Rewards for completing levels include random items or changes to how maps function.
Synopsis
Mankind Divided takes place in 2029, two years after Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The Deus Ex series is set in a futuristic world filled with secret groups and hidden plans, including the Illuminati. Before Human Revolution, progress in biotechnology and cybernetics led to the creation of "augmentations," artificial organs that improve human abilities. These augmentations require Neuropozyne, a rare and costly medicine that stops the body from rejecting the implants. This created social divides between "augs," people who have accepted augmentation technology, and normal humans who are either morally opposed, too poor to afford it, or whose bodies reject it.
During Human Revolution, the Illuminati planned to limit augmented people using a biochip. Adam Jensen, the security chief at Sarif Industries, a company that supports augmentations, fought against this plan. After an attack left him seriously injured, Jensen received many augmentations. An Illuminati member named Hugh Darrow disrupted the Illuminati's plan by broadcasting a signal from the Arctic research base Panchaea, causing people with the biochip to go insane. This event, called the Aug Incident, led to chaos. Jensen stopped the signal and had to choose whether to support Darrow, the Illuminati, or his employer. No matter the choice, Panchaea was destroyed during the incident. The trauma from the Aug Incident and the Illuminati's actions caused augmented people to be treated unfairly, leading to a system that isolates them in poor areas and takes away their rights by the time of Mankind Divided.
The story mainly takes place in Prague, with some events in Dubai and London. Important groups in the game include the Illuminati, a group of powerful corporate leaders, and the Juggernaut Collective, a group of activists who oppose the Illuminati. Two major groups in Mankind Divided are Task Force 29 (TF29), an anti-terrorist unit run by Interpol, and the Augmented Rights Coalition (ARC), a group that originally helped augmented people but has become a controversial militant organization.
Adam Jensen, the main character from Human Revolution, returns as the lead in Mankind Divided. After being presumed dead following Panchaea's destruction, he was secretly rescued and given advanced augmentations. Because of a special genetic trait that allows him to use augmentations without Neuropozyne, Jensen is neither fully trusted by non-augs nor fully accepted by augs whose augmentations are failing. He works for TF29 as a spy for the Juggernaut Collective to expose the Illuminati. His main opponents are ARC leader Talos Rucker and Viktor Marchenko, an ARC member who becomes a terrorist. Other important characters include Frank Pritchard, an old colleague from Sarif Industries; Shadowchild, a hacker with a grudge against Palisade Bank; and Hector Guerrero, an undercover agent in a prison for augmented criminals.
While the main story of Mankind Divided follows a clear path, many events depend on the player's choices. The game also includes optional subplots that players may or may not experience. This summary focuses on the main story and key decisions.
During a mission in Dubai, Adam and his team narrowly escape an attack by augmented mercenaries. Back in Prague, Adam meets with Alejandra "Alex" Vega, but they are caught in a bomb attack that damages his augmentations. After repairing them, Adam learns about hidden augmentations implanted during his recovery. He spies on a meeting between his TF29 director, Jim Miller, and his superiors, discovering that the United Nations will blame ARC for recent attacks. Adam is sent to Golem City, a ghetto for augmented people, where he confronts Rucker, who dies after confirming ARC was not responsible. Marchenko, an Illuminati supporter, takes Rucker's place and pushes ARC toward violence. Adam learns that TF29 director Joseph Manderley and VersaLife CEO Bob Page, both Illuminati members, used a biological weapon called Orchid to kill Rucker.
Rucker's death causes unrest among augmented people, leading the Czech government to impose strict control. Adam finds two leads: one from Vega and Janus about Orchid data stored in a Palisade Bank vault, and another from TF25 to capture augmented ex-soldier Allison Stanek, a bomb maker. Through either path, Adam reaches Marchenko's base in the Swiss Alps but is captured and injected with Orchid. Adam survives because of his genetic traits. After investigating a local crime family, Adam learns Marchenko plans to attack a London summit hosted by Nathaniel Brown, the CEO of Santeau Group. Brown is opposing the Human Restoration Act, an Illuminati-backed law that would force augmented people into isolation in a city called Rabi'ah, currently being built by Santeau Group.
In London, Brown refuses to cancel the summit, and Marchenko's men attack the event. Adam's past actions and current choices affect the outcome, including whether Miller survives after being poisoned with Orchid, whether Brown lives or dies, and whether Marchenko is captured or killed before attacking nearby buildings. Brown's fate and Marchenko's actions determine whether the Human Restoration Act is passed or blocked. After the mission, Vega promises to pursue Manderley and Page, and Adam asks Vega to introduce him to Janus. In a post-credits scene, an Illuminati meeting reveals they will closely watch Adam. It is also revealed that Delara Auzenne, a psychologist in TF29, is an Illuminati spy working to find Janus.
The game includes additional story content in downloadable episodes called "Jensen's Stories." In Desperate Measures, Adam learns that footage of a bombing was altered to protect a family member. In System Rift, Adam helps Frank Pritchard break into Palisade Bank to investigate Rabi'ah's construction, with help from Shadowchild. In A Criminal Past, Adam discusses his first mission with Auzenne, during which he went undercover in a maximum-security prison for augmented criminals. He investigates a prison riot and discovers Junkyard, a secret operation that harvests augmentations from inmates. Guerrero, another TF29 agent, is involved with Junkyard and wants to kill the operation's leader, the Fixer. Adam can stop the conflict or take sides, asking Auzenne if she would kill to protect a mission.
Development
Eidos-Montréal created Human Revolution as a prequel to Deus Ex and a new version of the series after it had not been active for several years. Although people were unsure about Human Revolution during its development, it was released in 2011 and received both good reviews and commercial success. Lead writer Mary DeMarle said the team did not plan to make a sequel during the creation of Human Revolution, as their main goal was to reintroduce Deus Ex to players. After finishing the game, the core team realized they needed to make a sequel. The sequel was originally planned to be made by Obsidian Entertainment. Studio CEO Feargus Urquhart estimated that their version would have been released in 2014, but the plan did not happen due to unknown reasons.
Production of Mankind Divided began in 2011 after completing The Missing Link, an expansion of Human Revolution. The team aimed to improve and make the experience of Human Revolution smoother with Mankind Divided, keeping parts that were well-received and fixing those that had been criticized or left incomplete. The sequel’s development took five years. DeMarle and gameplay director Patrick Fortier said the long development time was due to better technology and a more detailed story. In a later interview, co-writer Mark Cecere described the development as difficult because of staffing problems and the need to divide resources between the single-player and multiplayer parts. Production was completed on July 29, 2016, with Eidos-Montréal confirming that the game was "gold," meaning it was ready for duplication and release.
According to DeMarle, the team discussed where to go next after Human Revolution. Inspired by the Aug Incident at the end of Human Revolution, they wanted to explore its impact and aftermath. Although Human Revolution ended with a player choice, the team realized that the world’s population would be too busy dealing with the tragedy to notice. This allowed the development of a sequel where each player’s choice was valid. DeMarle was in charge of the story, overseeing a large group of writers who worked in teams: some handled the main story with DeMarle, others worked on side quests, and others helped with dialogue trees with boss characters. One of the contributors to the story was James Swallow, who had previously written additional media and helped with the writing of Human Revolution and Deus Ex: The Fall.
Describing Mankind Divided’s story design, producer Olivier Proulx said the team wanted to change the story structure so players had fewer chances to use a save to play through multiple endings (as in Human Revolution). Key plot twists were present throughout the game, affecting dialogue and story options. Some plot elements were left unresolved by the end of Mankind Divided, which DeMarle said was due to time limits and challenges with the game’s detailed story. Cecere explained that the ending, which focused on Marchenko, was meant to be the midpoint, and the game would have continued with Jensen traveling to the city of Rabi’ah and focusing on the true mastermind controlling Marchenko.
About where the story was supposed to go, Fortier said the team wanted to expand on the first game’s focus on transhumanism. This led to including the theme of discrimination, which seemed like a natural result of the social divisions caused by augmentations. Although these themes matched real-world events, Fortier said this was mostly accidental. These elements fit with the series’ cyberpunk setting and focus on conspiracy theories. Prague was chosen because the team wanted to focus on Europe after much of Human Revolution was set in America. Prague was a good example of a city with a mix of old and new architecture. The team also chose it because of the myth of the golem (originating, according to Fleur Marty, in central Europe), reflected by the Golem City ghetto.
While creating the story, DeMarle needed to remember the established Deus Ex story. She approached it as history written by the winner, with facts from the original Deus Ex not being accurate. This fit with the theme of seeking truth in Mankind Divided. Supplementary information in the game helped connect Mankind Divided to Human Revolution and future Deus Ex games. The Illuminati, key villains in the series, were shown differently in Mankind Divided than in the original Deus Ex, where they were part of a "90s-era X-Files-style paranoia." DeMarle wrote them as a loosely connected group of elites, each with their own goals. She compared the Illuminati of Mankind Divided with the bankers described in the book Too Big to Fail. Both were too arrogant to unite, and the bankers were the closest she could get to the fictional Illuminati.
An early decision brought Human Revolution’s protagonist Adam Jensen back for Mankind Divided. According to Proulx, his "badass" persona made him a favorite of the staff. DeMarle did not see Adam as having a long life in the Deus Ex series and had him die at the end of one of her drafts for Human Revolution. A key part of Adam’s portrayal in Mankind Divided was his acceptance of his augmentations after they were forced on him. Game director Jean-François Dugas described Adam as "a tool and a weapon," but in Mankind Divided, Adam accepted his augmented status and decided to use it for the greater good and his personal goals. Although Human Revolution portrayed Adam as reactive, DeMarle insisted he be rewritten as proactive in Mankind Divided. His interactions with Miller had to consider Adam’s new persona and the needs of a mission-based game. Elias Toufexis returned to voice Adam and began recording in 2013. About returning to the role, Toufexis said it was easy because he knew Adam’s character better, but still difficult since Adam’s personality was defined by the player. Toufexis needed to
Release
Mankind Divided was announced in a 2013 press release by Eidos-Montréal, part of the "Deus Ex Universe" project. This project included future games and media to expand the series' world. The game was leaked one day before its official announcement in early April 2015 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows PCs. It was the final part of a three-day promotional event called "Can't Kill Progress," organized by Eidos-Montréal and Square Enix. The event included a live Twitch stream of a man in a plain room, with viewers able to change the camera angle and vote on his actions during an interrogation. The campaign, inspired by Deus Ex's choice-based gameplay, aimed to inform fans that the series had returned.
The trailer was created by Visual Works, Square Enix's CGI team. Visual Works had worked with Deus Ex and Eidos-Montréal since Square Enix acquired Eidos Interactive in 2009. Adam's character model was based on original CGI designs from Human Revolution and Eidos-Montréal's plans. Visual Works and Eidos-Montréal worked together on the trailer's design. Although their past projects used fantasy or futuristic settings, the team used real-world Prague for the bombing scenes. Action scenes were planned with motion-capture actors. The most challenging scene for Visual Works was when Adam activated the Titan Armor to block bullets.
The PC version was developed by Nixxes Software and AMD, who focused on controls and graphics for different computers. Nixxes and AMD ensured the game ran smoothly on DirectX 12 systems, which used a programming interface similar to console versions, allowing equal optimization. Improving bokeh and depth of field was a priority for realism, using AMD's AOFX tool. AMD also improved the TressFX hair effect, creating a new tool called PureHair.
Mankind Divided was originally planned for February 23, 2016. However, the release was delayed until August 23, 2016, five years after Human Revolution's release. Eidos-Montréal said the team needed extra time to refine the game to meet quality standards. The game was released in standard and digital-deluxe editions, which included DLC and in-game items like Praxis Kits. A pre-order bonus for the PC version was an announcer pack with Adam's voice for Dota 2. Linux and macOS versions were developed by Feral Interactive, released in 2016 and 2017, respectively, in standard and digital-deluxe editions.
Soon after the game's announcement, Mankind Divided faced online criticism for using the word "apartheid" in its marketing. The term is historically linked to South Africa's racial segregation system. The game's staff defended its use, citing its relevance to the story. Another controversy arose over the phrase "Aug Lives Matter," similar to "Black Lives Matter," an activist movement. The developers said the similarity was accidental and predated the movement.
An initial marketing campaign for Mankind Divided included a five-tier pre-order system, where players could earn items based on worldwide pre-orders. The highest tier allowed early access to the game. However, the system was canceled due to negative reactions, and all content became available to pre-orderers or Day 1 buyers. The game was later criticized for using microtransactions and rumors about development issues.
After release, the team focused on post-game content and DLC, including story-based episodes and updates to Breach. A free standalone version of Breach was released on Steam in 2017, along with a VR experience of four environments. DLC access required separate purchases or a season pass included in the deluxe edition.
Story-based DLC was released under "Jensen's Stories." "Desperate Measures," a mission set after the main game, was released as a pre-order bonus and later as a free download. "System Rift," released in September 2016, introduced a new location and explained the Breach mode. "A Criminal Past," the final DLC, was released in February 2017.
A five-issue comic titled Deus Ex Universe: Children's Crusade was published by Titan Books between 2016 and 2017. The comic was written by Alexander C. Irvine and drawn by John Aggs. A collected version was released in 2016. A spin-off novel, Deus Ex: Black Light by Swallow, was published in 2016 and filled gaps between Human Revolution and Mankind Divided. Other related media included a novella, Deus Ex: Hard Line, and a mini-comic, Deus Ex Universe: The Dawning Darkness, both released as free downloads.
Reception
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to Metacritic, a website that collects and summarizes game reviews. The PlayStation 4 versions of the downloadable content (DLC) System Rift and A Criminal Past also received "generally favorable" reviews. However, the PC version of A Criminal Past received "mixed or average" reviews.
Nick Plessas of Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the game's focused story and how it gave Adam, the main character, a clear personality while keeping him mysterious. Edwin Evans-Thirlwell of Eurogamer said the story structure was among the best in the game's genre. Andrew Reiner of Game Informer believed the game missed opportunities to explore its themes. Nicholas Tan of Game Revolution noted that the story successfully combined multiple complex themes. Edmond Tran of GameSpot appreciated the tone and narrative but thought some players might find it too complicated. Phil Savage of GamesRadar praised the continuation of the conspiracy plot from Human Revolution but said the main story and characters were underdeveloped. Vince Ingenito of IGN called the plot "well produced," but Andy Kelly of PC Gamer found the side missions more engaging than the main story. Arthur Gies of Polygon highlighted the environmental storytelling and side missions as the game's strongest features. Some reviewers criticized the short length of the campaign and issues with the writing of characters and the main story. The way the game handled its themes was also criticized, especially when compared to the controversy it faced before release.
Reiner praised the game's visuals and music but said the voice acting was inconsistent. Tan also praised the graphics, and Tran enjoyed exploring Prague's environments, which combined realistic and futuristic designs. Savage said the setting was better than in Human Revolution but noted poor facial animations for minor characters. Ingenito mentioned inconsistent facial animations but called Prague's design "gorgeously realized." Kelly praised the graphics and called the level design "brilliant," while Gies noted how seamlessly Prague was designed compared to other games.
Plessas liked the upgrade systems and balance but found the AI (artificial intelligence) weak. Evans-Thirlwell appreciated the freedom to approach missions in different ways, such as using stealth or hacking. Reiner found the action-based gameplay less appealing due to weak AI but enjoyed stealth mechanics. Tan praised the expanded player options but noted that hacking was less prominent than in Human Revolution. Savage said the game was best played slowly to take advantage of new customization options. Tran appreciated the variety of approaches and new augmentation systems but said some upgrades had little impact. Ingenito noted improvements to combat and the user interface compared to Human Revolution and praised new features like gun customization. Kelly called the game "a great immersive sim" with strong level design and gameplay variety. Gies enjoyed the gameplay options but said the focus on stealth sometimes contradicted the game's theme of choice. The Breach mode, a multiplayer feature, was generally well-received.
In the United Kingdom, Mankind Divided was the top-selling game during its first week of release. However, it sold fewer copies than Human Revolution due to lower console sales. In the United States, it was the third best-selling game in August 2016, and console sales for the period were partly influenced by its release. In Square Enix's 2016 financial report, Mankind Divided and other 2016 games, including Final Fantasy XV, were credited with helping increase the company's profits. By May 2022, Human Revolution (including its Director's Cut) and Mankind Divided had sold a combined total of 12 million copies.
Future
After the release of Mankind Divided, rumors spread that a planned sequel to the Deus Ex series might have been canceled. Square Enix, the company that owns the Deus Ex franchise, was said to have paused the series due to low sales. These rumors grew stronger when Eidos-Montréal, the game developer, shifted its focus to creating Shadow of the Tomb Raider and a game based on Marvel Entertainment’s comic properties, later confirmed as Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. In 2017 and 2018, Square Enix and Eidos-Montréal denied reports that the series was canceled. While Eidos-Montréal was not working on another Deus Ex game at the time due to other projects, it stated it would return to the franchise when resources and interest allowed.
On May 2, 2022, Square Enix sold Eidos-Montréal, the developer of Deus Ex, to Sweden’s Embracer Group. Before the sale on May 20, 2022, Embracer Group expressed interest in creating new games, remakes, and spin-offs for the Deus Ex franchise.
In November 2022, Jason Schreier of Bloomberg News reported that Eidos-Montréal had begun very early development work on a new Deus Ex game. In January 2024, he reported that Embracer Group had canceled the project, which had been in development for two years. Cecere, a representative, noted that the original plan was for the game’s story to involve the character Jensen unintentionally causing events that would lead to the original Deus Ex. However, the canceled game did not follow this story plan.