Tencent starts US studio to make AAA games for next-gen consoles
Led by Rockstar veteran Steve Martin, LightSpeed LA will debut with an open world game for PS5 and Xbox Series X
Tencent Games is opening a new studio in Orange County, which is working on a AAA console game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
The new developer falls under Tencent's existing Lightspeed & Quantum subsidiary, which was founded in 2008 as one of the four studios within the Chinese publisher.
LightSpeed LA will be based in Orange County, and led by Rockstar veteran Steve Martin, who held leadership roles on Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, among others.
Martin will be both the studio head and executive producer of development. In a statement released today, he pledged to create "a crunch-free and inclusive culture" for its growing team.
"We're ushering a new era of game culture by combining world-class development with a stress-free work environment," Martin said. "From day one, our teams will be focused on building the highest caliber games while promoting integrity, proactivity, collaboration, and creativity."
LightSpeed LA has already recruited a team with experience at companies including Rockstar Games, Respawn Entertainment, 2K Games, and Insomniac.
The first project will be a AAA open world game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.