Tencent Closes TiMi Montréal Studio After Five Years of Operation

Tencent has shuttered its TiMi Montréal studio, marking a further reduction in its North American presence as game development costs continue to rise. The studio, founded in 2021 and led by former Assassin’s Creed creative director Ashraf Ismail, was intended to be a hub for AAA open-world, multi-platform game development.

Studio’s History and Leadership

TiMi Montréal did not release any standalone game titles during its five years of operation. Instead, the studio contributed to existing projects such as Pokémon Unite and Call of Duty: Mobile. Ashraf Ismail joined the studio as a “consulting creative director” following his departure from Ubisoft Montréal in 2020 after an internal investigation into misconduct .

Broader Trends and Previous Closures

The closure of TiMi Montréal follows Tencent’s earlier decision to close its Los Angeles-based Team Kajiu studio in 2023 . This indicates a broader adjustment in Tencent’s overseas operations, potentially driven by escalating development expenses in North America .

Employee Reactions

Several former employees confirmed the closure online. A senior gameplay programmer at TiMi Montréal reportedly indicated on LinkedIn that the team had been aware of the impending shutdown for some time, while a designer expressed appreciation for the team’s camaraderie .

Tencent’s Response

As of February 25, 2026, Tencent has not issued a formal comment regarding the closure of TiMi Montréal . The company’s job site currently lists openings only in China .

Connection to Wildlight Entertainment

TiMi Studio Group is believed to be the primary financial backer of Wildlight Entertainment, the developer of Highguard .