Xiaomi-backed phone start-up eyes China’s US$14 billion mobile game market with new handset

Black Shark, a start-up established in August last year with backing from Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, said it has received more than 100,000 registrations from users expressing interest in its new smartphone specifically targeted at gamers.

The Shenzhen-based company released its first gaming phone on Friday, featuring the Snapdragon 845 processor from Qualcomm and up to 8GB of RAM needed for high performance gaming. The phone is also equipped with an add-on cover which converts the device into a gamepad.

Xiaomi, China’s No 4 smartphone supplier, has invested 11 million yuan (US$1.7 million) for a 22 per cent stake in Black Shark, which it said was officially part of its ecosystem – a network of start-ups that produce lifestyle electronics products sold by Xiaomi.  

The gaming phone has been heavily promoted over the past week through social media posts by Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun as well as via advertising under the Xiaomi brand.

China’s smartphone market, the biggest in the world, has reached a saturation point with growth rates slowing, prompting phone brands to come up with alternative strategies to boost sales. Black Shark claims to be the first in China to focus on a smartphone tailored for the needs of game players as it seeks to tap into the country’s US$14.6 billion mobile game market. 

In late 2017 San Francisco and Singapore based gaming specialist Razer released its first gaming-centric phone which it sells via retail outlets in Hong Kong and China.