ByteDance closes Shanghai games studio in retreat from industry dominated by Tencent, NetEase

  • ByteDance disbanded its 101 Studio, letting about half of the 300-plus staffers go and offering internal transfers to others
  • The Chinese owner of TikTok had bet on the studio to expand into sectors beyond its core short-video business

Beijing-based ByteDance this week disbanded its gaming studio in Shanghai. Photo: AFP

ByteDance has shut down a game development studio it acquired just three years ago, slashing more than a hundred jobs in a major setback for its quest to challenge Tencent Holdings in mobile gaming.

TikTok’s Chinese owner disbanded its 101 Studio in Shanghai this week, letting about half of the 300-plus staffers go and offering internal transfers to the rest, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing private information.

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