Deus Ex Mankind Divided contains a standalone mode — Breach — presented as a hacker’s simulation space with score-based infiltration. Within Breach, obtainable data cubes contain fragments of communication that, assembled in the correct order, describe a conversation between two unknown parties about a third Deus Ex game that would complete the Mankind Divided storyline.
The communications reference events that had not happened in Deus Ex at the time of Mankind Divided’s release and reference a location — Rabi’ah — that is mentioned in the main game as a future flashpoint. The developers appeared to have been seeding a sequel that was never made.
Eidos Montreal confirmed in 2021 that the Deus Ex series was effectively cancelled following Mankind Divided’s commercial underperformance. The Breach data cubes contain the outline of a story that will not be told.
Mankind Divided is unique among cancelled franchise entries in having its continuation detailed — albeit obliquely — in a side mode nobody played, preserved in a data format requiring specific in-game actions to assemble.
Really fascinating breakdown — I had no idea this was hidden in plain sight the whole time. Going back for another playthrough immediately.
The amount of craft that went into hiding this detail is remarkable. Pure game design artistry.