https://www.scmp.com/rss/318713/feed Capable of rendering console-quality graphics and with access to a library of hundreds of thousands of games from around the world, mobile gaming is taking over. US gamers alone spent more than US$2.6 billion on smartphone games and in-app downloads in 2014. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lisa Cam Lisa Cam Like video games, micro dramas can be super addictive. And Timothy Oh, general manager of the Chinese digital content company COL Group, knows exactly how to get viewers hooked. Also called vertical dramas, micro dramas are a rapidly growing entertainment format featuring serialised short-form videos shot in 9:16 aspect ratio specifically for viewing on mobile devices. Series typically consist of 30 to 70 episodes, each lasting only one to three minutes, designed for fast-paced, addictive and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3348612/how-micro-dramas-work-tiktok-trend-leaving-big-studios-their-dust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3348612/how-micro-dramas-work-tiktok-trend-leaving-big-studios-their-dust?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Coco Feng,Wency Chen Coco Feng,Wency Chen ByteDance has struck a deal to sell its gaming studio Moonton to Savvy Games Group, a Saudi gaming company owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, for more than US$6 billion, according to information from the two sides on Friday. Moonton, known for the popular online battle title Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, recently signed an agreement to sell to Savvy, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Moonton CEO Zhang Yunfan said in an internal memo on Thursday seen by the South China... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347352/bytedance-sells-games-studio-moonton-saudi-firm-over-us6-billion-amid-pivot-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347352/bytedance-sells-games-studio-moonton-saudi-firm-over-us6-billion-amid-pivot-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:32:59 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak This year’s Pokemon Day, which falls on February 27, also marks the 30th anniversary of the internationally known and loved multimedia franchise. Helmed by the determined and compassionate Pokemon trainer Ash Ketchum and his loyal but stubborn “pocket monster” partner Pikachu, this Japanese IP has spawned a huge range of anime series, films, video games and merchandise. The now multibillion-dollar franchise began life as a role-playing video game series created by Satoshi Tajiri for the Game Boy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344721/how-pokemon-took-over-world-beloved-franchise-turns-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344721/how-pokemon-took-over-world-beloved-franchise-turns-30?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:15:07 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters Nostalgia for 2016 has been circulating on the internet over the last few weeks. People welcomed the new year by reminiscing 10 years into the past, sharing decade-old photos of themselves online. There is even a Wikipedia page for “2026 is the new 2016”. Of course, 2016 was before the Covid-19 pandemic rocked the world and the widespread use of generative AI (artificial intelligence) made us question what on our feeds was real and fake. Back then, people used social media mostly to stay... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3341778/2016-trends-pokemon-go-poke-bowls-looking-back-10-years-goes-viral-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3341778/2016-trends-pokemon-go-poke-bowls-looking-back-10-years-goes-viral-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Ben Jiang,Coco Feng Ben Jiang,Coco Feng The new year kicked off with the blockbuster public market debuts of two Chinese artificial intelligence high-flyers – Zhipu AI and MiniMax – making them the world’s first publicly listed large language model (LLM) start-ups. The listings put them ahead of US rivals including Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Amazon.com-supported Anthropic, which have yet to reach public markets. Both Chinese companies have been backed by heavyweight investors, including state-linked funds and big tech groups such as... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341063/next-level-why-chinas-game-makers-are-quietly-bankrolling-generative-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3341063/next-level-why-chinas-game-makers-are-quietly-bankrolling-generative-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s video game industry revenue grew 7.7 per cent to a new high this year, as domestic titles from the likes of Tencent Holdings and NetEase continued to expand globally and bets on artificial intelligence paid off, according to data released on Friday by the country’s semi-official gaming industry association. The country’s gaming market posted total sales of 350.8 billion yuan (US$49.8 billion) for the year, breaking the previous record of 325.8 billion yuan set last year. The numbers were... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337112/chinas-video-game-sales-reach-record-2025-amid-overseas-expansion-ai-investment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337112/chinas-video-game-sales-reach-record-2025-amid-overseas-expansion-ai-investment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:50:15 +0000 The Korea Times The Korea Times When Kim Seung-chul became Neowiz’s co-chief executive in 2021, the company was in dire need of a shift in its operations. The company was considered one of Korea’s big three game companies in the 2000s, publishing various hit titles while games developed by its own studios achieved noticeable success. In the 2010s, however, the domestic market shifted towards mobile titles and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), and many of Neowiz’s in-house titles struggled to gain... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3333333/how-korean-game-company-behind-lies-p-found-success-after-struggles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3333333/how-korean-game-company-behind-lies-p-found-success-after-struggles?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:15:10 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Video-game players are returning to an old technology to get their dopamine fix: websites. While much of the US$189 billion video-game industry is stagnant or shrinking, the appetite for web-based games like GeoGuessr and chess is soaring. Sales for such titles – advertising and the sums players spend on in-game items – were expected to triple from 2021 to 2028, reaching US$3.09 billion, according to data from Google and Kantar, a market researcher. The reason is simple: for time-pressed people,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3332288/forget-phone-apps-and-gaming-consoles-video-game-players-are-returning-websites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3332288/forget-phone-apps-and-gaming-consoles-video-game-players-are-returning-websites?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:15:09 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Savvy Games Group, the video gaming powerhouse owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, is looking to the Chinese market for inspiration as it embarks on a new phase of global expansion, according to company executives. During a recent visit to Shanghai, Saudi Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, vice-chairman of Savvy, highlighted China’s appeal, citing its vast consumer base and exceptional talent pool. “What is unique to China is its ability to be successful in games and esports... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3332027/saudi-video-gaming-giant-savvy-eyes-china-after-success-delta-force-black-myth-wukong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3332027/saudi-video-gaming-giant-savvy-eyes-china-after-success-delta-force-black-myth-wukong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 01:00:15 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Zhao Yitang had always dreamed of playing football for China and this summer he finally did – not in boots on a pitch, but on a smartphone. As the global popularity of football eSports grows, China is vying for success on the virtual pitch, following decades of struggles in the real-life sport. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has announced plans to form its own national eSports football team, kindling hopes for players like Zhao. “If I could join the national team I would go all-out in my... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3330569/chinas-dreams-football-glory-may-be-achieved-through-gaming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3330569/chinas-dreams-football-glory-may-be-achieved-through-gaming?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Mathias Woo Mathias Woo Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis is more than a mere zoning plan; it is a crucial part of China’s development strategy and a pivotal step towards elevating the Greater Bay Area’s (GBA) global profile. With development now under way, the conversation must shift to a new realm: soft power. The Northern Metropolis should not be just another new town designed to address Hong Kong’s housing and industrial needs. Rather, it must emerge as a zone of cultural emancipation that takes the GBA’s development... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3329196/more-tech-hub-northern-metropolis-can-be-cradle-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3329196/more-tech-hub-northern-metropolis-can-be-cradle-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 21:30:09 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg For more than a decade, Tencent Holdings developer Leo Yao toiled in relative anonymity, churning out one shooting game after another. Then he scored one of the biggest Chinese hits of 2024 with Delta Force, a video game that continues to attract 30 million players daily. Now, Tencent’s top brass have tasked the 43-year-old with helping orchestrate a major shift at China’s most valuable company. Executives see a change in tastes among domestic gamers – long deemed a smartphone-dominant audience... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328788/tencents-hit-title-delta-force-prompts-sharpened-focus-shooting-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3328788/tencents-hit-title-delta-force-prompts-sharpened-focus-shooting-games?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:32:27 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Want to get Generation Alpha into cinemas? Look to video games. Kids still like to go to the movies, according to a new research report, but the franchises they care about are not the traditional Hollywood popcorn fare. Seven of the top 10 entertainment franchises that the youngest generation of movie-goers cares about are video game properties, according to a recent study by the US-based National Research Group (NRG). The top five titles that Gen Alpha kids – generally considered to be those... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3324273/gen-alphas-entertainment-trends-revolve-around-video-games-why-matters-cinemas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3324273/gen-alphas-entertainment-trends-revolve-around-video-games-why-matters-cinemas?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:15:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Across India, on any given evening, glowing phone screens flash with gaming apps promising instant riches. But those promises have for too many ended in debt, despair and even suicide, propelling the government to outlaw real-money gaming apps in a bid to stem a crisis officials describe as “spreading like drugs in society”. On August 20, India’s parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, a sweeping piece of legislation that bans real-money gaming online. Hosting or... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3323700/india-bans-drug-real-money-online-gaming-stem-crisis-families-are-breaking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3323700/india-bans-drug-real-money-online-gaming-stem-crisis-families-are-breaking?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Aug 2025 06:30:08 +0000 Xinhua Xinhua Tim’s fingers tightened on his PS5 controller as the Chinese word for “death”, or “game over”, appeared again and again on the screen. The black-clad hero he was guiding carried the aura of Chinese martial arts fantasy, drawing one of the longest queues at Gamescom 2025, held from August 20 to 24 in the German city of Cologne. “The art style is really cool, and even the boss fight I just cleared looked great,” said the young gamer from Germany’s Harz after a one-hour demo. Titled Phantom Blade... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323364/why-chinese-video-games-are-wowing-europe-and-beyond-gamescom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3323364/why-chinese-video-games-are-wowing-europe-and-beyond-gamescom?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:00:14 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Tencent Holdings, the world’s largest video gaming company by revenue, is intensifying its international expansion as its flagship studio reports a record number of overseas players and prepares to launch a new title based on its flagship game, Honour of Kings. TiMi Studio Group – developer of Honour of Kings, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Delta Force – has reached 100 million monthly active users outside mainland China, a milestone that took the 17-year-old studio by surprise, according to Huang... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3322324/tencent-game-studio-eyes-global-growth-honour-kings-spin-after-user-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3322324/tencent-game-studio-eyes-global-growth-honour-kings-spin-after-user-milestone?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese video gaming companies are doubling down on artificial intelligence to enhance their titles and explore new growth opportunities, driven by rapid advances in AI models, according to executives at ChinaJoy – the country’s largest annual digital entertainment expo. The four-day event in Shanghai drew a surge of AI companies eager to forge or deepen partnerships with local studios focused on adopting AI-driven technologies. Huawei Technologies, the Shenzhen-based telecommunications... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3320848/chinajoy-2025-tencent-huawei-and-smaller-studios-leverage-ai-boost-video-gaming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3320848/chinajoy-2025-tencent-huawei-and-smaller-studios-leverage-ai-boost-video-gaming?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Comic book fans braved heavy downpours to attend Hong Kong’s annual anime and games festival on its last day, as vendors slashed product prices to clear inventory. Despite a black rainstorm signal being issued on Tuesday morning, fans headed out to Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong 2025 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, where some queued for more than 30 minutes. The forecaster raised the black signal, the highest level in the three-tier warning system, at 9.10am before downgrading it... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319965/hong-kong-ani-com-2025-heavy-rain-fails-deter-fans-events-last-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319965/hong-kong-ani-com-2025-heavy-rain-fails-deter-fans-events-last-day?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 07:59:15 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Cosplayers dressed as characters such as Dr Mario, Pikachu and Hokusai were among the thousands undeterred by the summer heat who joined an outdoor queue before streaming into Hong Kong’s annual comics and games fair on Saturday. A snaking queue formed beyond the Convention and Exhibition Centre across the street on a footbridge into Central Plaza on Saturday and was constantly moving without any signs of ending as of 2.30pm. Jonathan Nguyen, who came as Dr Mario – the main character of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319689/thousands-comic-book-fans-brave-summer-heat-attend-hong-kong-ani-com-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319689/thousands-comic-book-fans-brave-summer-heat-attend-hong-kong-ani-com-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 08:28:07 +0000 Maggie Yeung Maggie Yeung Eat This Lobster Bar & Grill x Trattoria Felino From now until early December, Lobster Bar & Grill is inviting a rotating roster of chefs to put their spin on its Sunday roast menu. On July 27, chef Marcello Scognamiglio of Trattoria Felino shows off his culinary chops with a starter, a roast dish and a dessert, in addition to the traditional English roast by Lobster Bar’s chef Cary Docherty. Chefs from Estro, Leela and Roganic are scheduled to follow in the coming weeks. Level 6, Island... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3318705/what-do-hong-kong-july-20-26?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3318705/what-do-hong-kong-july-20-26?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:45:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Finnish video game studio Supercell, developer of Clash Royale and Brawl Stars, is set to launch its popular titles on Tencent Holdings’ WeChat as installation-free mini games, leveraging the super app’s vast user base. Jakub Barczyk, business and operations lead for Supercell’s Clash of Clans, said on Wednesday that Brawl Stars was already available on WeChat, known as Weixin in mainland China, while Clash Royale was “currently being developed” for a September release on the WeChat mini-game... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3315811/gaming-studio-supercell-expand-tencents-wechat-installation-free-mini-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3315811/gaming-studio-supercell-expand-tencents-wechat-installation-free-mini-games?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:14 +0000 Edith Lin,Oscar Liu Edith Lin,Oscar Liu Police have warned residents against downloading a mobile game application advocating Hong Kong and Taiwanese independence or risk breaking national security laws. The force also said on Tuesday that action had been taken under the Beijing-imposed national security law to allow police to require the relevant electronic platforms to remove access to the game Reversed Front: Bonfire, which was developed by ESC Taiwan and launched in April. Individuals who downloaded the app could be considered in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3313886/hongkongers-warned-not-download-mobile-game-promoting-secessionist-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3313886/hongkongers-warned-not-download-mobile-game-promoting-secessionist-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:39:56 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Players swiping their way through more than 18,700 levels of Candy Crush Saga might be surprised to learn they are solving puzzles designed with an assist from artificial intelligence (AI). The app that helped make gamers out of anyone with a smartphone uses AI to help developers create levels to serve a captive audience constantly looking for more confectionery to squash. King, the Swedish video game developer behind Candy Crush, also uses AI to update older levels to help ensure players do not... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3309983/how-does-candy-crush-use-ai-why-it-makes-total-sense-game-use-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3309983/how-does-candy-crush-use-ai-why-it-makes-total-sense-game-use-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 May 2025 20:15:08 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s video gaming companies saw their overseas operations emerge as key revenue driver in 2024 amid slow growth in the domestic market, according to a survey of these firms’ latest annual results. Chinese video game studios are now doubling down on exporting high-quality titles to foreign markets, according to Zhang Shule, an analyst with CBJ Think Tank. The trend follows the years-long effort of both Tencent Holdings and NetEase to expand the global reach of China’s video gaming sector. Hong... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3309603/chinas-video-gaming-firms-bet-overseas-revenue-growth-amid-weak-home-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3309603/chinas-video-gaming-firms-bet-overseas-revenue-growth-amid-weak-home-market?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2025 23:00:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Sachi Schmidt-Hori has never played Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but facing an onslaught of online harassment from its fans, she quickly developed her own gameplay style: confronting hate with kindness. Schmidt-Hori, an associate professor of Japanese literature and culture at Dartmouth College, worked as a narrative consultant on the latest instalment in the popular Ubisoft video game franchise. The game launched on March 20, but the vitriol directed at Schmidt-Hori began in May 2024 with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3308947/us-professor-teaches-assassins-creed-trolls-lesson-killing-kindness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3308947/us-professor-teaches-assassins-creed-trolls-lesson-killing-kindness?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 May 2025 06:35:57 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport ONE Championship has launched its first official mobile game, ONE Fight Arena, allowing players the opportunity to step into the ring as their favourite stars. The fast-paced player-versus-player action allows gamers to choose from more than 20 ONE Championship fighters, including Demetrious Johnson, Stamp Fairtex, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, and Jonathan Haggerty. The game offers an immersive, first-person view where users guide fighters from humble beginnings to world championship glory. Players earn... https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3308293/one-championship-launches-new-mobile-game-one-fight-arena?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/article/3308293/one-championship-launches-new-mobile-game-one-fight-arena?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Apr 2025 03:06:14 +0000 Domestically made mobile romance games such as Light and Night, Love and Deepspace have become popular among young women in China, where some have even tried to bring their online obsessions to life. They hire cosplayers, usually other young women, to play characters from their favourite games and accompany them on dates. Many clients say the increasingly popular “cos commissioning” service provides emotional fulfilment and companionship. Some cosplayers, meanwhile, say experiencing what it is... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3307033/why-are-young-chinese-women-hiring-cosplayers-and-going-dates-their-virtual-lovers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3307033/why-are-young-chinese-women-hiring-cosplayers-and-going-dates-their-virtual-lovers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Apr 2025 01:00:19 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Nintendo will release its new Switch 2 console on June 5, seeking to keep the No 1 spot in video-game devices with a new version of the top-selling model it introduced in 2017. The new product would start at US$450 in the US, the company said Wednesday, an increase from the US$300 the company charged for the original Switch. Shares of Nintendo fell 5.9 per cent Thursday morning in Tokyo, part of a broader sell-off on fears that tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump would harm Asian... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3304988/nintendos-switch-2-priced-us450-june-5-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3304988/nintendos-switch-2-priced-us450-june-5-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Apr 2025 03:00:07 +0000 Love and Deepspace, a popular mobile game, has captured the hearts of many young women in China and beyond, with its lifelike 3D characters, engaging storylines and futuristic romance scenarios. In one example of such devotion, players gathered at a Beijing shopping centre on March 1 to celebrate the birthday of their virtual “boyfriend” – the game character Rafayel. Many fans say such virtual relationships provide a sense of emotional fulfilment and companionship. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3303288/young-women-china-find-virtual-romance-hit-game-love-and-deepspace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3303288/young-women-china-find-virtual-romance-hit-game-love-and-deepspace?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Mar 2025 05:23:25 +0000 A year after Beijing signalled it was ready to sponsor a nationally organised plan to stimulate consumption, the country’s and the Communist Party’s top organs have jointly released a blueprint that tackles the problem from multiple angles. The trade-in programme that the State Council, China’s cabinet, launched last March got off to a slow start and was generally viewed as a short-term boost for consumption. Data since around September has indicated that the programme is benefiting the economy,... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3302811/beijing-gets-down-business-stimulating-consumption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3302811/beijing-gets-down-business-stimulating-consumption?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:00:10 +0000 As Chinese mythology explodes on the world stage, it is poised to redefine the global entertainment market. From this year’s animated film Nezha 2 becoming the first non-Hollywood production to rake in US$1 billion at the box office, to Black Myth: Wukong’s cross-cultural appeal in the gaming world, centuries-old stories are captivating audiences like never before. This surge in popularity reflects both a growing hunger for diverse narratives and a fascination with cultures beyond the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3298378/how-chinese-mythology-and-folklore-are-captivating-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3298378/how-chinese-mythology-and-folklore-are-captivating-world?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Long before Black Myth: Wukong made a splash at the 2024 Game Awards – the Oscars of the video games industry – in December, winning both the player’s voice award and best action game, Chinese culture had served as an inspiration for the international gaming community. One could go as far back as the naming of Atari, one of the earliest video game makers, which was co-founded by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney in 1972. According to author and journalist Harold Goldberg’s 2011 book, All Your Base... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3298481/5-popular-video-game-series-draw-chinese-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3298481/5-popular-video-game-series-draw-chinese-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Tencent Holdings’ Honour of Kings: World is among China’s first batch of video games approved in 2025, raising expectations that the title, which is still under development, will turn out to be the latest hit from the world’s largest gaming company. The open-world, action role-playing game, a spin-off of the company’s massively popular multiplayer online battle arena game Honour of Kings, is one of the 136 new titles approved in January by the National Press and Publication Administration... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3295838/tencents-honor-kings-spin-gets-green-light-china-approves-136-new-games-january?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3295838/tencents-honor-kings-spin-gets-green-light-china-approves-136-new-games-january?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:30:13 +0000 Mia Castagnone Mia Castagnone The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and Hong Kong’s stock exchange have taken disciplinary action against a Chinese gaming company and its former directors for misconduct that resulted in more than HK$660 million (US$85 million) in losses. The former directors of FingerTango, a Guangzhou-based mobile video gaming company, face disciplinary actions for misconduct and breach of duty from the SFC and the exchange over the misuse of listing proceeds after the company went public in... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3295084/sfc-stock-exchange-take-disciplinary-action-against-fingertango-chinese-gaming-company?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3295084/sfc-stock-exchange-take-disciplinary-action-against-fingertango-chinese-gaming-company?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:39:24 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Tencent Holdings and Ubisoft Entertainment’s founding Guillemot family are looking at creating a new venture that would include certain Ubisoft assets as they seek to boost the French videogame company’s value, people familiar with the situation said. The Chinese technology firm and the Guillemot family are evaluating which assets to include in the new entity and will assess their valuations, the people said. A potential deal would allow Tencent to own a stake in the venture and gain more... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294888/tencent-guillemot-family-consider-creating-new-venture-involving-certain-ubisoft-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294888/tencent-guillemot-family-consider-creating-new-venture-involving-certain-ubisoft-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:16:13 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Pony Ma Huateng, founder and CEO of Tencent Holdings, said in his annual address to employees that he was confident in China’s economic prospects and pleased with the growth of the company’s video game revenue in overseas markets. The low-profile Ma, who rarely speaks in public, built Tencent from scratch into a tech behemoth in media, video gaming and payment services. According to excerpts of the speech seen by the Post, Ma talked about China’s economic resilience and the entrepreneurship of... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294706/tencent-ceo-praises-chinas-economic-resilience-hails-overseas-gaming-revenues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294706/tencent-ceo-praises-chinas-economic-resilience-hails-overseas-gaming-revenues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jan 2025 09:31:28 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese children will be limited to a total video game playing time of about 15 hours during their month-long winter school holiday, under strict rules designed to prevent them becoming addicted to games. Tencent Holdings and NetEase, China’s two biggest video-gaming companies, have signalled their adherence to existing regulations, which add up to no more than 16 hours during the school holiday period which begins mid-January. Tencent, which operates the world’s largest video gaming business by... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294239/chinese-regulators-limit-game-playing-time-kids-15-hours-month-during-school-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294239/chinese-regulators-limit-game-playing-time-kids-15-hours-month-during-school-break?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jan 2025 01:30:19 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Alibaba Group Holding’s video gaming unit will withdraw its flagship mobile title from the app store of smartphone maker Vivo, months after Tencent Holdings pulled its mobile game from several Android app stores. The cooperation between strategy game Three Kingdoms Tactics and the Vivo app store had ended, Alibaba’s Lingxi Games said in a statement published earlier this week, without elaborating on the reason. The game will be removed on March 7, and users will no longer be able to log into the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294303/alibaba-studio-pulls-top-game-vivos-app-store-after-similar-move-tencent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3294303/alibaba-studio-pulls-top-game-vivos-app-store-after-similar-move-tencent?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2025 12:00:07 +0000 With over 60 million downloads and an estimated US$180 million in revenue since late October, a new Pokémon mobile game app is enjoying worldwide success as the latest incarnation of the hit Nintendo-owned franchise. Released on October 30, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is a virtual version of the collectible card game that has captivated schoolyards since the late 1990s. Developed by The Pokémon Company, a Nintendo subsidiary, it combines opening “boosters” – the equivalent of sealed card... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3291537/pokemon-tcg-pocket-earns-us180-million-6-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3291537/pokemon-tcg-pocket-earns-us180-million-6-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:45:07 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s video gaming industry grew 7.53 per cent this year, reaching record sales of 325.8 billion yuan (US$44.8 billion), aided by the release of new hit games, according to the country’s semi-official gaming industry association. The figures for the domestic video game market, the second-largest in the world, mark the highest annual sales since the data started being tracked in 2003, although growth slowed from the double digits it saw last year. The numbers were released by the China... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290626/chinas-video-gaming-revenue-hits-new-high-2024-back-blockbuster-releases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290626/chinas-video-gaming-revenue-hits-new-high-2024-back-blockbuster-releases?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Dec 2024 05:01:53 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Black Myth: Wukong, China’s first AAA video game which has taken the world by storm since its launch in August, has inspired Chinese gaming studios to try and achieve similar success in overseas markets, according to delegates at an industry conference in Beijing. International expansion was the major topic up for discussion during the annual conference hosted by China’s Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, the country’s semi-official gaming industry body, with a number of company... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290553/black-myth-wukong-inspires-chinese-video-game-studios-go-overseas-executives-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290553/black-myth-wukong-inspires-chinese-video-game-studios-go-overseas-executives-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:05:49 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s esports industry returned to growth in 2024, according to figures released by an industry association, as major video-gaming companies led by Tencent Holdings and NetEase bet big on the sector’s international expansion. Revenue generated by the esports industry grew 4.6 per cent from a year earlier to 27.6 billion yuan (US$3.8 billion), on the back of a number of factors including government support and overseas expansion, according to a report released by the China Audio-Video and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290350/chinas-esports-industry-returns-growth-2024-tencent-netease-expand-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290350/chinas-esports-industry-returns-growth-2024-tencent-netease-expand-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:59:46 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao The head of Alibaba Group Holding’s entertainment business has apologised to employees for his controversial remarks dismissing a video-gaming unit’s performance and disparaging the Cantonese dialect, which went viral on Chinese social media over the weekend. Fan Luyuan, chairman and chief executive of Alibaba’s Digital Media and Entertainment Group, admitted he was “out of line” with the remarks, adding that he only wanted to “liven up the atmosphere” during a meeting with the employees of... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290026/alibaba-entertainment-group-head-apologises-belittling-video-gaming-unit-cantonese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290026/alibaba-entertainment-group-head-apologises-belittling-video-gaming-unit-cantonese?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Dec 2024 11:30:16 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Thousands of Pokemon enthusiasts from around the world have gathered in Hong Kong for a two-day event in which players of the popular mobile game can participate in quests to catch virtual creatures at local landmarks. Gamers descended on Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturday morning for the inaugural “Pokemon Go City Safari” event, an extension of the augmented reality mobile game. The event featured six themed areas: Sha Tin, Kowloon City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Island, Cheung Chau and Ngong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3289833/thousands-flock-hong-kong-two-day-pokemon-go-city-safari-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3289833/thousands-flock-hong-kong-two-day-pokemon-go-city-safari-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Dec 2024 14:56:03 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao NetEase, China’s second-largest video gaming company, has cut an undisclosed number of jobs involved in an “underperforming” project that will soon be shut down, according to a person with knowledge of the matter and Chinese media reports. The lay-offs at the company’s offices in southern tech hub Shenzhen affected employees involved in mobile game Hyper Front, a tactical team-based shooter that was launched on August 30 on the mainland, according to the person who asked to be anonymous because... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3288760/netease-cuts-jobs-shenzhen-first-person-shooting-game-underperforms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3288760/netease-cuts-jobs-shenzhen-first-person-shooting-game-underperforms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Nov 2024 13:00:17 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Tencent Holdings will gradually cut off online sales and services for the Chinese version of the Nintendo Switch console from 2026, potentially affecting millions of users in the world’s second-largest video gaming market. The Tencent-operated eShop for the Chinese Nintendo Switch console will stop selling or offering paid and free video games and software on March 31, 2026, according to a statement published on Tuesday on the console’s mainland website. Certain downloads and code redemptions,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3288377/chinese-nintendo-switch-users-limbo-tencent-winds-down-online-services-console?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3288377/chinese-nintendo-switch-users-limbo-tencent-winds-down-online-services-console?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Nov 2024 11:00:14 +0000 1. Baidu’s third-quarter revenue drops 3% amid economic struggles Hit by China’s economic downturn impacting advertising spending, the internet search giant faces challenges as it invests heavily in its Ernie large language model. Online marketing revenue dipped 4 per cent, outpacing AI growth. 2. PDD Holdings’ 44% revenue growth can not allay investor concerns Shares plummeted due to investor concerns about China’s economic slowdown and fierce e-commerce competition, highlighting the price war... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3287723/chinas-tech-giants-pdd-holdings-xiaomi-alibaba-tencent-defy-economic-woes-6-latest-earning-reports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3287723/chinas-tech-giants-pdd-holdings-xiaomi-alibaba-tencent-defy-economic-woes-6-latest-earning-reports?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Nov 2024 09:48:05 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese video-sharing and gaming platform Bilibili has achieved quarterly profitability for the first time, a key milestone it has been striving for since going public in the US in 2018. The Shanghai-based company said in a statement on Thursday that it recorded an adjusted net profit of 235.9 million yuan (US$33.6 million) during the third quarter, compared with an adjusted net loss of 863.5 million yuan in the same period last year. That marks the company’s first adjusted net profit in a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3286622/chinese-video-platform-bilibili-achieves-quarterly-profitability-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3286622/chinese-video-platform-bilibili-achieves-quarterly-profitability-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Nov 2024 15:11:43 +0000 Iris Deng,Ann Cao Iris Deng,Ann Cao Tencent Holdings, operator of China’s biggest social media app and the world’s largest video gaming business by revenue, beat analyst estimates with a 47 per cent profit jump in the third quarter, helped by renewed growth in the video gaming segment. Profit reached 53.2 billion yuan (US$7.4 billion) in the three months ended September, up from 36.2 billion yuan in the same period a year ago. That exceeded the consensus estimates of 45.3 billion yuan from analysts polled by Bloomberg. Revenue for... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3286405/tencent-beats-estimates-47-profit-jump-driven-video-gaming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3286405/tencent-beats-estimates-47-profit-jump-driven-video-gaming?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:14:12 +0000 Whether on a computer, game console or smartphone, adolescents often spend a lot of time playing video games. But how much is a lot? Among adolescents aged 11 to 15 in 44 countries and regions in Europe, central Asia and Canada, 34 per cent play every day, and 22 per cent play for at least four hours on a gaming day, according to a recently published survey by the World Health Organization (WHO). The survey classified 12 per cent of the respondents as being at risk of “problematic” gaming – 16... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3285741/can-playing-video-games-be-good-your-child-expert-weighs-pros-and-cons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/gadgets/article/3285741/can-playing-video-games-be-good-your-child-expert-weighs-pros-and-cons?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Nov 2024 09:15:07 +0000