New Tencent Studio Working On AAA Open-World Games Closes Without Ever Releasing Anything
Kotaku
by Ethan GachFebruary 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The TiMi Montreal studio, part of Tencent's efforts to enter the AAA open-world game market, has closed its doors without releasing any projects. Established less than five years ago, the studio was once seen as a promising venture, with rumors of ambitious projects and significant hiring drives. However, despite initial excitement from fans and industry insiders, the closure comes as a surprise, leaving questions about the future of Tencent's gaming ambitions in the West.
TiMi Montreal was part of Tencent's broader strategy to compete with major AAA game developers like Sony and Microsoft. The studio aimed to create high-quality open-world games, a genre known for its massive development costs and risks. While details about specific projects remain scarce, sources close to the company hinted at challenges in balancing creative vision with financial constraints. This closure follows a pattern of other ambitious gaming ventures struggling to meet expectations, highlighting the difficulties of entering the AAA market.
Verticals
gamingentertainment
Originally published on Kotaku on 2/22/2026