Lightspeed Studios launches "Original IP Initiative" as it bets on AAA original games
Summary
Lightspeed Studios announced its "Original IP Initiative" at GDC 2025, signaling a strategic shift from co-developed titles to original IP
Two AAA projects are now in development: Last Sentinel (open-world action) at LightSpeed L.A. and an unnamed AAA action title at the new LightSpeed Japan Studio
The move reflects a broader restructuring toward self-sustained, independently run regional studios focused entirely on original, cross-platform games
"Every developer's true ambition lies in developing original games... that's why LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS is the place to be"
01
Strategic pivot - from PUBG MOBILE co-dev to original IP focus
Lightspeed Studios, best known for co-developing PUBG MOBILE with KRAFTON, is pivoting its core strategy toward building original IP
The "Original IP Initiative" formalizes a network of self-sustained regional studios, each empowered to develop original, cross-platform titles independently
Studios gain direct access to Lightspeed's centralized R&D resources, including latest breakthroughs in graphics and in-game realism
The model allows each studio to shape its own culture while sharing a unified creative vision across Eastern and Western game philosophies
02
Last Sentinel - LightSpeed L.A. assembles AAA open-world team
Steve C. Martin, VP of Lightspeed Studios and GM of LightSpeed L.A., is leading development of Last Sentinel, an original AAA open-world action game
The team draws talent from Rockstar Games, Naughty Dog, Obsidian Entertainment, Sony Santa Monica, Meta, and EA Games
Martin brings direct experience from Red Dead Redemption I and II and Grand Theft Auto V at Rockstar Games
Studio culture is built around creative freedom, development-based scheduling, and a strong emphasis on constructive feedback and humility
03
LightSpeed Japan Studio - Hideaki Itsuno enters early AAA development
Hideaki Itsuno, legendary director behind Devil May Cry, Dragon's Dogma, and Capcom VS. SNK, has joined Lightspeed as head of LightSpeed Japan Studio
Itsuno confirmed at GDC 2025 that he has begun early development of a new, unnamed original AAA action game
"Our focus is on developing gameplay elements that offer players entirely new experiences - the kind of innovations that make players say I've never seen that in a game before"
The Japan Studio represents a key node in Lightspeed's global creative network, blending Japanese game design heritage with the studio's cross-cultural development model
04
Global studio footprint supports the original IP ambition
Lightspeed Studios operates across China, the US, Singapore, Canada, the UK, France, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and the UAE
The company has built over 50 games across multiple platforms and genres for over 4 billion registered users
State-of-the-art development facilities are being built globally to support original game development pipelines
Regional teams are encouraged to exchange ideas and blend cultural influences, positioning Lightspeed to develop truly global gaming experiences
05
What's ahead - building toward a multi-title original IP pipeline
Both Last Sentinel and Itsuno's unnamed title signal Lightspeed's ambition to compete at the highest tier of AAA game development
The regional studio model is designed to scale, with more independently run studios likely to be added to the network over time
GDC 2025 workshops showcasing R&D in graphics and performance hint at proprietary tech becoming a competitive differentiator across projects
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