Among the many games that impress at The Game Awards and then disappear with nary a whisper is Lightspeed LA’s Last Sentinel. However, following its 2023 announcement, the division has recently announced a shift in the “creative and development direction” after extensive internal reviews and play-testing.
This is to “deliver the experience players expect,” which would have been all well and good if layoffs weren’t also part of the deal. Lightspeed LA notes that “some roles” will be affected, and while a specific number hasn’t been confirmed, GamesBeat claims that it’s 80 employees.
“We are treating affected team members with compassion and respect, offering comprehensive support and where possible the opportunity to transfer internally.”
Despite these setbacks, Lightspeed Studios says that North America remains a “cornerstone” of its “global gaming strategy,” and that its “long-term commitment” is “unchanged.”
It’s worth noting that Tencent owns Lightspeed, which consists of about 130 employees in its Irvine, Los Angeles office. If the current number of layoffs is correct, that would mean over half the development team has been laid off. Considering the location is also the site of its motion-capture studio, you have to wonder if perhaps that particular side was affected more.
Regardless, there’s no other information on Last Sentinel, whether it’s a release date, when we’ll see more gameplay or even the platforms. Helmed by Steve C. Martin, former Rockstar San Diego studio manager, it takes place in a futuristic Tokyo affected by floodwaters. Players control Hiromi, a peacekeeper, though the overarching plot remains to be detailed.
