Developer Lightspeed LA has laid off 80 employees after publisher Tencent pulled its backing from Last Sentinel, leaving the ambitious cyberpunk open-world project in jeopardy. First announced at The Game Awards in 2023, the game has been in development for six years.
Quick Facts
- Developer: Lightspeed LA (Lightspeed Entertainment)
- Publisher: Tencent (withdrawn)
- Impact: 80 employees laid off
- Current Status: Active development continuing independently without Tencent
What Happened to Last Sentinel?
According to Bloomberg reporting, doubts regarding Last Sentinel began to circulate after promotional videos released last year failed to show actual gameplay footage. The title was designed as a vertical city open-world set in cyberpunk Japan featuring destructible environments, driving, and shooting mechanics.
However, development faced significant hurdles. The team was smaller than those typically utilized by Rockstar for open-world games and contended with an unclear vision alongside a polarizing management approach from former Rockstar San Diego studio director Steve Martin. Following a poor playtest and an unimpressive executive demonstration earlier this year, Tencent opted to end its financial and publishing support for the project.
Future Development Plans
Despite losing its publisher, Last Sentinel has not been officially cancelled. Lightspeed is continuing development without Tencent's backing, though the studio plans to shift the creative and development direction of the game to meet player expectations.