Tencent closes TiMi Montréal, its Western development arm founded in 2021 to work on AAA open-world, multi-platform titles, after five years without releasing a game.

TiMi Montréal was announced in mid-2021 with a mission to create AAA open-world games across platforms as part of Tencent’s broader push to expand Western studio presence.

Staff and affiliates on LinkedIn indicate the closure was official and anticipated by employees for some time.

The closure sits within broader industry movements around Tencent-backed teams and notable departures tied to NetEase’s Western strategy.

Analysts view the shutdown as part of a pattern of North American studios facing layoffs or shutterings as publishers reassess geographic and financial priorities.

This exit reflects a wider trend of Chinese tech giants scaling back Western game development investments, including concurrent moves by NetEase.

Over the past 18 months, Tencent and other Chinese publishers have retreated from Western studio expansions, with funding reductions echoed by NetEase.

Employees and external reporting express disappointment over the unfinished potential of TiMi Montréal and its projects.

Ashraf Ismail, former Assassin’s Creed creative director, had joined TiMi Montréal a few years prior to the closure, leading the studio.

LinkedIn estimates the studio employed roughly 5,000 to 10,000 people, though numbers vary by source.

No recent released titles or publicly disclosed collaborations have been linked to TiMi Montréal, and project involvement remains unclear.

The shutdown highlights shifts in global gaming strategy, potentially affecting employment, partnerships, and the pipeline for Tencent’s Western-facing projects.