Tencent is known for its vast business portfolio, which spans industries from finance to healthcare and beyond. One of these divisions is Tencent Games, known largely for developing mobile adaptations of existing IPs for the Chinese market. Some of the mobile games Tencent is famous for include PUBG Mobile, Pokémon Unite, Teamfight Tactics, and Honor of Kings. In recent years, the company has also begun developing original IPs.
As Tencent continues to make its mark in the gaming and entertainment landscape, several DigiPen (Singapore) alumni have been contributing their skills there. Among them are BFA in Digital Art and Animation graduates Gordon Christian and Hoo Xin Jie, who currently work at Tencent as an environment concept artist and associate 3D artist, respectively. Gordon joined Tencent Games shortly after graduating in 2022, while Xin Jie initially started at the company as an intern before being offered a full-time position on his team upon graduating in 2023.
Gordon and Xin Jie are part of Tencent’s vibrant creative ecosystem, where they contribute to game development projects from the ground up. Gordon’s day typically begins with a brief meeting with colleagues to discuss updates on ongoing projects. “After that short scrum update, I focus on tasks for our main art meetings, which are held twice a week with our Shenzhen counterparts,” he says. He is currently working on environment concepts for a new game demo, having already contributed to multiple in-house tech demos and game pitch projects.
For Xin Jie, his day also starts with a morning meeting to keep everyone on his team updated on project progress. Afterward, his daily tasks include creating 3D assets, collaborating with international colleagues, and attending various meetings to discuss project developments and ensure alignment across teams.
Gordon and Xin Jie were both drawn to work at Tencent because of the company’s global reach and highly dynamic environment. Gordon values the opportunity to work with experienced colleagues from whom he can learn. Working with his international counterparts has also broadened his perspective, teaching him to embrace diverse working styles and cultural practices.
Xin Jie says he was drawn to Tencent’s reputation as a leader in gaming and entertainment. “Seeing the kind of work being done within the company has been an eye-opening experience, especially the level of coordination that goes into production planning,” Xin Jie says. He also appreciates the work-life balance and employment benefits that Tencent offers, as well as the camaraderie among colleagues and the close-knit office culture.
Reflecting on their educational journey, both Gordon and Xin Jie credit DigiPen (Singapore) for providing the foundational skills that have helped them succeed at Tencent. “DigiPen provided me with strong artistic foundations, especially in understanding the 3D pipeline,” Gordon says. “This helps me to create concepts more effectively as a 2D artist.”
Beyond artistry, Xin Jie highlights how working on multidisciplinary group projects in school taught him the importance of collaboration and effective time management. “Game development isn’t reliant on one person but on the whole team working together,” he says. This teamwork-focused mentality has proven essential in his role at Tencent, where large-scale projects depend on cross-functional collaboration.
Both Gordon and Xin Jie are grateful to be part of Tencent’s mission to create groundbreaking gaming experiences. They look forward to further honing their skills and pushing the boundaries of digital art as they help shape the future of gaming for players worldwide.