Multinational tech conglomerate Tencent has quietly shuttered its Montreal subsidiary, TiMi Studio Group. The closure, first reported by Game File‘s Stephen Totilo, follows weeks of speculation about its future. The subsidiary’s shutdown was confirmed in a now-deleted LinkedIn post from a TiMi programmer. “Today, TiMi Montreal is officially closing its doors,” the social media post began. “While we had been aware this was coming for some time, it doesnt make the reality any easier.” The post continued:
I am genuinely heartbroken that the public will never get to experience what this team was capable of producing. TiMi Montreal was made up of really talented people and working with them was a privilege, the level of skill and dedication on this team was something special.
I wish the best to every single person on this team, any studio would be lucky to have them and I have no doubt they will go on to do incredible things.
As difficult as today is, I am still looking ahead with optimism and excitement for what’s next.
Other studio employees shared similar sentiments in LinkedIn comments. “Well said my friend. This team was exceptional not just in talent, but also in camaraderie,” one game designer shared. “It’s one of those experiences that sticks with you for a very long time, and I feel privileged to have been part of it.”
Another wrote, “Endings are never easy, but they often lead to even greater opportunities. With your level of talent and professionalism, I know something big is ahead bud. Can’t wait to see what’s next!”
Tencent’s broader TiMi Studio Group has developed prominent mobile titles, including Call of Duty: Mobile, Monster Hunter Outlanders, and Pokémon Unite. TiMi Montreal, first announced back in Summer 2021, has not released any games in the five years since its inception.
According to Totilo, neither Tencent nor TiMi Studio Group provided a statement to Game File.
About TiMi Studio Group
TiMi Studio Group got its start in 2008 as the Shenzen, China-based Jade Studio. The company is perhaps best-known as the crew behind 2010’s QQ Speed, one of China’s most successful racing video games. A localized version — Garena Speed Drifters, or GKART — landed in the United States in 2011. GKART was shut down the following year, but eventually returned to the U.S. in early 2019.
TiMi’s Montreal branch, founded in 2021, was led by former Assassin’s Creed director Ashraf Ismail. Ismail joined TiMi Montréal in 2020 as a “consulting creative director” after being terminated at Ubisoft Montréal following investigations of misconduct.
The Montreal studio was created to be an arbiter of “AAA open world multi-platform games,” and joined the company’s other North American TiMi offices in Los Angeles and Seattle, respectively.
According to GI.biz, Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group was also Highguard‘s “lead financial backer.”
At the time of writing, Tencent Holdings ADR (OTCMKTS: TCEHY) shares are up 0.80 percent (+0.55 today) to $68.59.
