San Francisco, March 20, 2025 – At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, Tencent Games' Lightspeed Studios presented a series of talks, offering insights into their approach to crafting player-centric games.  Beyond showcasing innovative game development technologies and optimization tools, a highlight was the inaugural public conversation between Steve C. Martin, General Manager of Lightspeed L.A., and Hideaki Itsuno, Head of Lightspeed Japan.  Their discussion provided a global industry perspective on the complete game development journey, from initial concept to AAA release.

With the unveiling of "Last Sentinel," a AAA open-world action game under development by Lightspeed L.A., and the appointment of renowned game creator Hideaki Itsuno to lead Lightspeed Japan, Tencent Games has reaffirmed its commitment to global expansion. This strategy centers around establishing international AAA development studios, recruiting top-tier talent, and building robust global collaboration models.  Understanding that original content is crucial to enhancing player experience, Lightspeed Studios is dedicated to delivering exceptional gameplay worldwide. This commitment is reflected in their ongoing investment in game technology R&D, fostering innovation to support the creation of groundbreaking game content.  Lightspeed Studios’ presentations at GDC 2025 spanned a wide range of topics, including global illumination solutions, the integration of neural networks with procedural generation, real-time scene destruction, production pipeline tools, and optimized workflows, all aimed at boosting development efficiency and creativity.

At GDC 2025, Hideaki Itsuno, Head of Lightspeed Japan Studio, officially announced the commencement of development on an original AAA action game, marking an exciting opportunity to bring his unique creative vision to life.  With a distinguished career at Capcom, Itsuno has led the development of iconic titles such as "Devil May Cry," "Dragon's Dogma," and "Capcom VS. SNK."  He will continue to champion creative freedom, efficient execution, and collaborative teamwork at Lightspeed Japan, striving to deliver truly groundbreaking gaming experiences.  "We’re building a creative environment that blends diverse cultural perspectives with cutting-edge technology," Itsuno stated.  "Our goal is to develop games that offer entirely new experiences, leaving players astonished and saying, 'I've never seen anything like this in a game before!'"

To propel game development forward, Lightspeed Studios actively fosters original thinking within its diverse teams, drawing inspiration from various cultural backgrounds to create games with truly global appeal.

Steve C. Martin is currently leading Lightspeed L.A. in the ongoing development of "Last Sentinel."  With core team members hailing from renowned studios like Rockstar Games, Naughty Dog, Obsidian Entertainment, and Sony Santa Monica, Lightspeed L.A. cultivates an open and inclusive creative environment to drive efficient game development.

“Every game developer dreams of creating their own world from scratch,” said Martin, whose extensive experience at Rockstar Games includes contributions to acclaimed titles like "Red Dead Redemption" and "Grand Theft Auto V."  “The magic of original games lies not only in technological breakthroughs but also in the ultimate expression of creativity. We aim to leverage Tencent's global resources to create truly impactful games."