Tencent Closes TiMi Montreal in Latest Western Studio Shuttering
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Tencent has shut down its TiMi Montreal studio, ending the five year run of a team that worked on mobile spin offs and support tasks after initially targeting major open world games.
Tencent has officially closed its TiMi Montreal studio, marking yet another casualty for major publisher expansion efforts in the West. Originally established five years ago with ambitions to build large scale open world multiplatform titles, the studio was led by former Ubisoft creative director Ashraf Ismail. Reports surfaced via Game File that the closure happened late last week, catching few by surprise internally but still delivering a heavy blow to the local developer community.
While the broader TiMi Group remains a massive global force with thousands of employees, this particular branch struggled to carve out its intended identity. Instead of shipping a major new AAA flagship, the Montreal team largely focused on supporting existing properties and mobile projects inherited from Jade Studio, including contributions to titles like Pokemon Unite and Call of Duty: Mobile. Former developers have taken to LinkedIn to praise the strong camaraderie and exceptional talent within the team, even as the harsh realities of the current industry climate caught up with them.
This shutdown highlights a broader, troubling trend across the games industry where major publishers continue to pull back on ambitious studio investments. For players who enjoy cross platform ecosystems and massive open worlds, every studio closure diminishes the diversity of upcoming releases and puts talented creators out of work. As big tech and massive conglomerates reassess their portfolios, the human cost of these corporate pivots remains the most painful part of the cycle. Read the original report on Eurogamer.
Tags: Tencent, TiMi Montreal, Industry News, Game Development, Studio Closures
Original article: Eurogamer