Story perspectives

Tencent Shuts Down TiMi Montreal Amid Western Retreat

2/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

Tencent closed its TiMi Montreal studio after five years without releasing a game.
A programmer on LinkedIn confirmed the closure, saying the team's potential would go unrecognized.
TiMi Montreal, founded in 2021 and led by Ashraf Ismail, former Assassin's Creed director, aimed for AAA open-world games while working on Pokémon Unite.
The shutdown reflects a broader trend of Chinese firms, including NetEase, divesting from Western assets amid retreat from expansion.

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Story summary

Tencent closed its TiMi Montreal studio after five years without releasing a game.
A programmer on LinkedIn confirmed the closure, saying the team's potential would go unrecognized.
TiMi Montreal, founded in 2021 and led by Ashraf Ismail, former Assassin's Creed director, aimed for AAA open-world games while working on Pokémon Unite.
The shutdown reflects a broader trend of Chinese firms, including NetEase, divesting from Western assets amid retreat from expansion.