Tencent's Lightspeed LA Cuts Ties with Troubled Cyberpunk Game
Tencent's Lightspeed LA studio has laid off developers and shifted direction for its six-year-old cyberpunk game, Last Sentinel, after struggling to meet internal deadlines and facing criticism for its management style.
Key points
- Last Sentinel, a cyberpunk game at Tencent's Lightspeed LA, has been in development for over six years.
- The game, seen as a competitor to Grand Theft Auto, has faced delays, missed internal deadlines, and cost overruns.
- Lightspeed LA has laid off developers and shifted direction for the game following 'extensive internal reviews and play-testing'.
- The studio's management style was described as 'polarizing' and a major factor in the game's struggles.
- Troy Baker, the game's former performance director, has not been involved with the project for some time.
Tencent's Lightspeed LA studio has been working on Last Sentinel, a cyberpunk game, for over six years. Initially described as an ambitious open-world AAA game, the project has faced significant challenges. The game was seen internally as a competitor to Grand Theft Auto, but its development has been marred by delays, missed internal deadlines, and cost overruns.
The studio's management style has been criticized, with some describing it as 'polarizing'. This has been cited as a major factor in the game's struggles. In response, Lightspeed LA has laid off developers and shifted direction for the game. The exact impact of these changes remains to be seen.
The situation highlights the risks and challenges associated with developing complex, ambitious games. It also raises questions about the future of Last Sentinel and whether it will ever be released.
Sources
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