Tencent effectively shelved its open-world game Last Sentinel after six years of development. The project cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars.
Lightspeed LA developed the title to compete with the Grand Theft Auto series. The project struggled with management issues, high staff turnover, and a lack of creative vision.
Tencent issued a July improvement deadline for the studio. This ultimatum followed an overwhelmingly negative internal playtest earlier this year.
The studio failed to meet the deadline, prompting Tencent to halt the project in its current form. This decision led to approximately 80 layoffs at Lightspeed LA.
Tencent states the studio will remain open to shift the game's direction. However, sources believe the project as originally conceived is finished.