ByteDance scores its first mobile game hit in China in ongoing battle with market leader Tencent

  • The success of ‘One Piece: The Voyage’ shows that ByteDance’s heavy investment in gaming is starting to pay off
  • In China’s US$43 billion video gaming market, just one successful mobile title can make a big difference

ByteDance’s acquisition of Moonton gave the Chinese tech giant an important foothold in Southeast Asia, where Tencent seeks to expand. Photo: Handout

A video game developed by TikTok owner ByteDance was China’s fifth-biggest mobile game by revenue in May, demonstrating the company’s potential as a challenger to Tencent Holdings’ dominance of the lucrative sector.

One Piece: The Voyage, a pirate-themed game developed by CMGE Technology Group and Nuverse, a game studio wholly owned by ByteDance, was launched on April 23 in China and quickly gained popularity, becoming the Beijing-based company’s first title to break into the top 10 list compiled by Chinese market app tracking firm CNG.

Print option is available for subscribers only.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.