https://www.scmp.com/rss/506037/feed The latest gaming news from China, including Arena of Valor, Fornite, Cyberpunk City and PUBG plus new releases, game reviews and deep-dives into China's powerhouse presence in esports. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lin Qi, the chairman and chief executive of the Chinese games publisher Yoozoo, has been hospitalised in what the Shanghai police characterised as suspected poisoning, in a case that has gripped China’s social media. Lin, 39, visited a Shanghai hospital on December 16 after experiencing “acute symptoms of illness,” according to a WeChat statement by Youzu Interactive, as Yoozoo is also called. Lin is currently under treatment and his condition is stable, the company said. Shanghai’s police said... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3115236/chief-executive-game-thrones-game-publisher-yoozoo-lands-hospital-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3115236/chief-executive-game-thrones-game-publisher-yoozoo-lands-hospital-shanghai?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Dec 2020 06:03:08 +0000 Esports will become an official medal event in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in 2022, marking a first for the multi-sports tournament and a major step forward for competitive gaming. The move was confirmed by the Hangzhou organising committee on its Weibo account on Wednesday. Esports was first included as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Six titles were featured: Arena of Valor, Hearthstone, League of Legends, StarCraft II, Clash Royale and Pro Evolution... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3114298/esports-debuts-official-medal-event-hangzhou-2022-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3114298/esports-debuts-official-medal-event-hangzhou-2022-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Dec 2020 05:58:37 +0000 Subor, the creator of China’s most iconic video game consoles in the 1980s, has become the subject of a bankruptcy petition, according to a court document filing made public on Thursday. It marks the latest blow to the once-popular brand that gave Chinese children an early taste of Super Mario Bros. and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles before most families could afford imported Nintendo machines. Detailed information about the petition, filed to Zhongshan Intermediate People’s Court, was not... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3109039/bootleg-gaming-console-maker-subor-faces-bankruptcy-frontman-barred?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3109039/bootleg-gaming-console-maker-subor-faces-bankruptcy-frontman-barred?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Nov 2020 09:00:27 +0000 Outside an entrance marked by towering wooden doors, three armoured warriors in conical hats kept guard. Inside, visitors in ancient garb walked on plush Chinese carpets to the front hall, passing rows of stately armchairs. On the stage, flanked by calligraphy scrolls and ornamental dragons, an invited scholar was about to start his lecture. His topic? An introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning. The occasion was the International Conference on Distributed Artificial... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3107279/netease-game-justice-holds-worlds-first-ai-conference-taking-place-hit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3107279/netease-game-justice-holds-worlds-first-ai-conference-taking-place-hit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Oct 2020 18:00:21 +0000 Among Us is one of America’s latest obsessions. But in China, there is nothing especially novel about the breakout indie video game, except for its name. As influencers and politicians discover the hot new multiplayer game for the first time, Chinese players are reacting with a collective yawn. When hundreds of thousands of viewers on Tuesday tuned into the first Twitch stream of US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez playing Among Us, the novelty appeared lost on gamers in China. “So Among... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3106467/among-us-taking-world-storm-its-just-space-werewolf-gamers-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3106467/among-us-taking-world-storm-its-just-space-werewolf-gamers-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Oct 2020 18:00:06 +0000 Xiaomi says it has a way for gamers to get a significant speed boost on the Mi 10 Ultra by installing games directly to RAM instead of the internal storage. It is the kind of thing that was once the sole domain of PCs, but modern smartphone hardware is finally making it possible on mobile devices. One of the pesky things about modern gaming is that massive, sprawling titles can take a little bit to load. That is why some people cannot wait to get their hands on this year’s new generation of... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3104347/xiaomi-introduces-ram-drives-smartphones-so-gamers-can-load-games-pubg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3104347/xiaomi-introduces-ram-drives-smartphones-so-gamers-can-load-games-pubg?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2020 07:30:16 +0000 If you need to convince someone to let you cosy up at home and play games instead of going out, tell them it’s better for the planet. But don’t stream those games from the cloud if you want to really minimise your carbon footprint. Compared with people who use transport to go to the cinema or play sports, consumers who stay indoors and play PlayStation games produce fewer carbon emissions, according to a Sony-sponsored academic study. Conducted at the University of Surrey and based on data in... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3103488/cloud-gaming-playstation-titles-generates-more-carbon-emissions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3103488/cloud-gaming-playstation-titles-generates-more-carbon-emissions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2020 13:34:52 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen As a game concept artist based in Chengdu, Scor Mu knew that having “pretty” and “sexy” female characters was an unspoken industry rule. But the 28-year-old still could not believe a one set of instructions she received last year for designing a new character. “It needs to give people an urge to masturbate,” the document read, according to Mu. In another document she received for feedback, the company that commissioned Mu’s concept art blatantly said, “Just imagine that she’s the type you most... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3102108/sexism-gaming-rife-china-and-more-stark-ever-following-comments-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3102108/sexism-gaming-rife-china-and-more-stark-ever-following-comments-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2020 03:00:16 +0000 Often when an “update” comes out in lieu of a new title, there’s a tendency to feel a little robbed, perhaps. A bit like we’ve been duped, like the makers have taken a year off but kept their hand out. The irony of this particular release (the helpfully titled Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 Season Update) is that this approach has long been presented by gamers as a suggestion for sport title developer’s perceived annual repackaging of games with minor tweaks and a major price tag. However, the work... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3102282/pes-2021-review-still-best-football-game-around-and-fine-way-end-ps4?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3102282/pes-2021-review-still-best-football-game-around-and-fine-way-end-ps4?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2020 00:00:09 +0000 The PlayStation 5 is launching worldwide in November, but not in mainland China. That’s why dedicated Chinese gamers are already plotting how to get their hands on grey market imports. In other parts of Asia, the next generation Sony console hits shelves on November 12 in Japan and South Korea and November 19 in most other places, including Hong Kong. But a launch date for mainland China is conspicuously missing. The PlayStation announcement notes, “Availability in each country [is] subject to... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3101916/sony-playstation-5-launch-has-console-gamers-china-scrambling-grey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3101916/sony-playstation-5-launch-has-console-gamers-china-scrambling-grey?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2020 17:00:15 +0000 A number of popular mobile games in China have been called out for not properly protecting user privacy, including one of the biggest mobile games in the world: Tencent’s Peacekeeper Elite , the Chinese version of PUBG Mobile. Peacekeeper Elite , also known as Game for Peace, is an incredibly lucrative title for game developer Tencent. But China’s National Computer Virus Emergency Response Centre (CVERC) says the game doesn’t clearly state all the permissions it accesses on a user’s phone,... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3101437/pubg-mobiles-chinese-version-gets-called-out-failing-protect-user?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3101437/pubg-mobiles-chinese-version-gets-called-out-failing-protect-user?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2020 13:22:24 +0000 Gaming furniture used to be niche. But now Ikea is getting in on the action in a sign that the category is going mainstream. The Swedish company plans to launch its first products made specifically for gamers starting in China next year. To take on this project, Ikea teamed up with the Asus brand Republic of Gamers (ROG). Taiwan’s Asus already offers a line of gaming equipment such as desktops, laptops and keyboards. The new collaboration will see the launch of about 30 pieces of ergonomic... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3101584/ikea-and-asus-rog-team-launch-gaming-furniture-and-accessories-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3101584/ikea-and-asus-rog-team-launch-gaming-furniture-and-accessories-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2020 11:30:15 +0000 Tell Me Why, a new game from the creator of the beloved adventure game Life Is Strange, is getting widespread attention for making history as the first major title to feature a transgender lead character. Reception hasn’t been so warm in China, but that’s mostly because the game is too inaccessible in one of the world’s biggest gaming markets. Tell Me Why was released in three chapters over the course of three weeks on Xbox One, Windows 10 and Valve’s Steam game store. All three platforms have... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3100958/tell-me-why-first-major-game-transgender-protagonist-its-not-available?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3100958/tell-me-why-first-major-game-transgender-protagonist-its-not-available?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2020 17:00:09 +0000 When a young heroine, garbed in a Ming dynasty-era dress, enters a lavish courtyard, she finds herself face-to-face with her nemesis, the imperial concubine. A battle ensues, featuring magic spells with powdery pink petals, before the heroine emerges victorious. But then she encounters a handsome young lord with whom she is immediately enchanted. If this sounds like the kind of story you would be into, you’re not alone. This is an episode of Fate of the Empress, a game that’s become popular... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3099754/romance-and-court-intrigue-how-female-focused-games-find-success-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3099754/romance-and-court-intrigue-how-female-focused-games-find-success-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2020 01:05:16 +0000 When India banned TikTok in June, some PUBG Mobile players experienced a sense of schadenfreude. The blockbuster smartphone game, despite being published by Chinese tech titan Tencent, was spared from the original list. But gamers have now run out of luck. Late on Wednesday, India issued a sweeping ban on PUBG Mobile, PUBG Mobile Lite and 116 additional apps. The government’s move riled gamers and streamers who rushed to the internet to discuss a future without their favourite title. #pubgban... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3100055/pubg-mobile-players-and-streamers-mourn-indias-ban-tencent-smartphone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3100055/pubg-mobile-players-and-streamers-mourn-indias-ban-tencent-smartphone?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Sep 2020 07:15:34 +0000 Qin Chen Qin Chen This article originally appeared in Inkstone, a daily digest of China-focused stories. A series of vulgar remarks from the founder of a Chinese gaming company has ignited a debate about the persistent mistreatment of female gamers and sparked calls for a boycott. On the day his company released a trailer for a much-anticipated new game, Feng Ji said it had attracted so many job applicants that he had been “licked so much that [he] could no longer get erected.” In another post about the trailer,... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098967/gamers-reconsider-anticipated-title-black-myth-wukong-following?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098967/gamers-reconsider-anticipated-title-black-myth-wukong-following?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2020 16:35:09 +0000 The next highly anticipated game in the hit Call of Duty franchise isn’t even out yet, but its new trailer is already being censored in China. The new trailer for Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War that dropped last week is based around segments of a 1984 interview with former Soviet KGB informant and defector Yuri Bezmenov. His comments on Russian Cold War subversion strategies act as narration over real footage from conflicts of the era. One of the clips shows protesters in Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098634/call-duty-black-ops-cold-war-trailer-gets-censored-china-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098634/call-duty-black-ops-cold-war-trailer-gets-censored-china-over?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2020 17:01:18 +0000 Fall Guys is officially coming to smartphones … in China. Chinese online video giant Bilibili recently announced that it’s bringing a mobile version of the global breakout hit to its home market. The game is currently available for preregistration on Bilibili’s game platform. As of Monday morning, more than 130,000 users have expressed interests. Bilibili, China’s biggest anime site, covers the screen in user comments Bilibili says it will be the Fall Guys mobile publisher in China, but there’s... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098564/bilibili-bringing-fall-guys-china-mobile-game-following-battle-royales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098564/bilibili-bringing-fall-guys-china-mobile-game-following-battle-royales?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2020 08:35:09 +0000 The hit Nintendo Switch game Ring Fit Adventure is finally available in China, but the country’s largest e-commerce platforms suspended pre-orders less than two days after pre-orders started. The game went up for pre-order at midnight on Thursday, but the option was removed the following day. JD.com and Alibaba Group Holding’s Tmall have disabled the option to pre-order the popular exercise game, which sells for 499 yuan (US$72) and officially releases on September 3. Alibaba is the parent... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098366/retailers-suspend-ring-fit-adventure-pre-orders-china-day-after-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098366/retailers-suspend-ring-fit-adventure-pre-orders-china-day-after-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2020 05:40:48 +0000 You’re probably familiar with the typical “gamer” stereotype: a young boy glued to his console or PC while playing some first-person shooter or MMORPG for hours on end. But in reality, gamers are a much more diverse lot – many being adults playing casual games on their phones. In China, it’s become common for kids to see their parents fixated on their smartphones while playing games within WeChat, the country’s biggest social platform. WeChat recently revealed that nearly 70 per cent of gamers... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098167/mini-games-tencents-wechat-are-turning-everyone-casual-gamers-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098167/mini-games-tencents-wechat-are-turning-everyone-casual-gamers-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2020 02:40:15 +0000 Ring Fit Adventure is finally arriving on the Nintendo Switch in China 10 months after its initial release elsewhere. The exercise game became a breakout hit during the Covid-19 pandemic in China. Even though the coronavirus is now largely under control in the country, Tencent is still betting on the popularity of Ring Fit Adventure with an official release. In a brief live-streamed event on Wednesday night, Tencent announced that Ring Fit Adventure would be available for the Switch in China... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098026/ring-fit-adventure-gets-official-release-chinese-nintendo-switch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3098026/ring-fit-adventure-gets-official-release-chinese-nintendo-switch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2020 03:20:08 +0000 A new version of Microsoft Flight Simulator was released worldwide on Tuesday to rave reviews and much excitement – except in China. Even though you can find Chinese airports among the more than 37,000 included in the game, players in China were upset to find that they had to jump through some hoops to try it out themselves. Some YouTubers who had already tested out the game showed themselves flying past the CCTV headquarters in Beijing and landing in the Forbidden City earlier this month. Now... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3097845/microsoft-flight-simulator-lets-you-fly-through-china-where-game-isnt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3097845/microsoft-flight-simulator-lets-you-fly-through-china-where-game-isnt?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2020 03:10:14 +0000 After going more than half a year without attending live games, e-sports fans in China were finally able to show up in person to the finals of one of the country's most popular tournaments. The Honour of Kings World Champion Cup 2020 finals took place in front of a live audience in Beijing on Sunday. It was the first e-sports event with a live audience since the coronavirus outbreak spread across the country in January. Thousands of people showed up to Wukesong Arena to see Dynamite Gaming... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3097696/honour-kings-champion-cup-gets-first-e-sports-live-audience-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3097696/honour-kings-champion-cup-gets-first-e-sports-live-audience-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Aug 2020 13:00:30 +0000 A YouTube alert interrupted Jack Erricker’s schoolwork on Friday morning as he and children all over the world woke up to the news that their favourite game, Fortnite, had been taken down from Apple’s app store and Google Play store. “It’s basically the only game I play,” said Jack, an 11-year-old in Bangalore, India, who loves playing Fortnite on his Apple iPad. “I’m not happy, I don’t think it’s a good move.” Fortnite, which has attracted more than 350 million players globally, is especially... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3097526/fortnite-gen-z-gamers-socially-cut-apple-google-remove-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3097526/fortnite-gen-z-gamers-socially-cut-apple-google-remove-app?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Aug 2020 16:12:43 +0000 China has kept Pokémon Go outside its borders for years, but several new trademarks are reviving hopes that the blockbuster game might eventually arrive in the country. It’s been recently revealed that last month, Nintendo applied for two trademarks using the simplified Chinese name for Pokémon Go, according to a National Intellectual Property Administration database. And that’s not all: The record shows that Nintendo has been filing for dozens of Pokémon-related trademarks for months now. They... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3097211/nintendo-files-chinese-trademarks-pokemon-go-china-where-mobile-ar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3097211/nintendo-files-chinese-trademarks-pokemon-go-china-where-mobile-ar?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Aug 2020 03:00:14 +0000 There aren’t many Chinese apps that are popular in the US. But the White House’s newly expanded Clean Network campaign is threatening the few that have earned American fans – many of them mobile games. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo unleashed a five-pronged plan aimed at curbing the influence of Chinese technology. As part of the new initiative, US app stores are urged to remove TikTok, WeChat and other “untrusted” Chinese apps. “PRC apps threaten our privacy, proliferate... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3096336/trumps-clean-network-could-threaten-american-gamers-favorite-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3096336/trumps-clean-network-could-threaten-american-gamers-favorite-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:44:04 +0000 For years, the Chinese government has been trying to stop kids from playing too many video games. Now regulators are taking things a step further by ensuring anyone wanting to play a game must log in with their real names, thanks to a state-run authentication system set to be rolled out by September. Once implemented, game makers will be asked to join the system in batches, said Feng Shixin, an official from the Communist Party's Central Publicity Department. Feng spoke on Friday during... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3095509/chinas-real-name-verification-system-games-launch-nationwide-september?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3095509/chinas-real-name-verification-system-games-launch-nationwide-september?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Aug 2020 03:15:14 +0000 When Microsoft unveiled its next-generation Xbox in March, it seemed like gamers in China were impressed. But now that they’ve had a look at more new and exclusive titles coming to the Xbox Series X, some say they might just save their money for something else. While China didn’t lift its 15-year ban on gaming consoles until 2015, gamers there are no strangers to the Xbox. Microsoft beat out Nintendo and Sony in the country by being the first to introduce its console there. Since then, Microsoft... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3094499/xbox-series-x-game-showcase-crossfirex-and-fable-excite-gamers-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3094499/xbox-series-x-game-showcase-crossfirex-and-fable-excite-gamers-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jul 2020 10:12:19 +0000 A lost wallet may have the owner’s ID card inside. A lost smartphone might still get calls from someone who knows the owner. But how do you find a person who left behind a Nintendo Switch? Police in Taiwan found a way. The Taipei City Police Department said one of its local stations in Daan district recently received a lost Switch. At first, it wasn’t clear if there was a way to contact the owner. According to the department’s Facebook page, the handheld console didn’t contain any identifying... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3094281/taiwan-police-return-lost-nintendo-switch-help-animal-crossing-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3094281/taiwan-police-return-lost-nintendo-switch-help-animal-crossing-new?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2020 03:15:08 +0000 Many gamers around the world are still absorbed in building up virtual islands in this year’s hot Nintendo Switch game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. But in China, where Animal Crossing has been removed from e-commerce sites, gamers are turning to a different experience: building virtual riverside towns in the Ming dynasty-era simulation game titled Canal Towns. The hit new mobile game has been called a Chinese-style agricultural version of Animal Crossing, but it bears a closer resemblance to... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3094256/mobile-game-canal-towns-luring-animal-crossing-players-building-towns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3094256/mobile-game-canal-towns-luring-animal-crossing-players-building-towns?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2020 02:15:16 +0000 Mobile gaming is a better experience when animations look smoother and the screen reacts faster. That’s why gaming smartphones are usually some of the most powerful handsets you can find on the market. On paper, Lenovo’s latest device certainly fits that description. Unveiled in China on Wednesday, the first Lenovo Legion phone includes a display with a super smooth 144Hz refresh rate, a sizeable 5,000 mAh battery and Qualcomm’s brand new 5G Snapdragon 865 Plus processor – all of which are among... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3094302/lenovo-launches-first-legion-gaming-phone-5g-144hz-display-and-pop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3094302/lenovo-launches-first-legion-gaming-phone-5g-144hz-display-and-pop?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jul 2020 14:49:00 +0000 In Ghost of Tsushima, the Mongols are the bad guys. That may seem like a harmless premise for an action game set in the 13th century, but it has kicked off a lively online debate that pitches Chinese nationalists against supporters of Sony’s new PlayStation 4 title. Taking place during the first Mongol invasion of Japan, the game portrays Japanese warriors as heroes defending their home, the island of Tsushima, against ruthless foreign invaders. Gamers play the role of Jin Sakai, a lone samurai... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3093956/ghost-tsushimas-mongol-invaders-spark-nationalist-debate-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3093956/ghost-tsushimas-mongol-invaders-spark-nationalist-debate-over?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2020 03:15:08 +0000 Owning a Rolls-Royce is no longer just a dream for gamers in China. To celebrate the second anniversary of QQ Speed Mobile’s open beta, the racing game is letting players drift in virtual luxury cars designed by the iconic British brand. Players who logged on over the past few days were given the option to download a Rolls-Royce Dawn. Later this week and through the summer, an imaginary model called the “2035 edition Rolls-Royce QEX” will also be available. Tencent's 《QQ Speed》 (It's basically... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3093242/rolls-royce-now-part-tencents-mario-kart-racing-game-qq-speed-mobile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3093242/rolls-royce-now-part-tencents-mario-kart-racing-game-qq-speed-mobile?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:03:47 +0000 If you love Nintendo and retro gaming, then there’s a new gadget for your Switch that you might love. The Switch Fighter is an accessory that turns the Nintendo’s latest console into a mini arcade cabinet. It features a full-scale arcade joystick and buttons for playing classic games like Street Fighter II and Pac-Man. It’s currently only available through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. But my colleague Thomas and I got a chance to try out the Switch Fighter recently, and we have some... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3092547/turn-your-nintendo-switch-retro-arcade-cabinet-new-gadget?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3092547/turn-your-nintendo-switch-retro-arcade-cabinet-new-gadget?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2020 13:12:40 +0000 Nintendo Switch players in China can rejoice: They’re getting another game. Biped follows two cute robots trying to solve puzzles to complete their quest. The cooperative platformer comes from Next Studios owned by Tencent -- Nintendo’s official partner in China. It’s the same game maker behind the puzzle game Iris.Fall, also available on China’s Switch, and the audio mystery Unheard. Biped now joins the slim pickings officially available on the local version of Nintendo’s console. Next Studios... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3091699/chinas-nintendo-switch-gets-yet-another-tencent-game-biped?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3091699/chinas-nintendo-switch-gets-yet-another-tencent-game-biped?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jul 2020 10:37:33 +0000 When India issued a sweeping ban of 59 Chinese apps on Monday, the news raced across the country’s internet. But there was one conspicuous omission from the list of newly banned software: PUBG Mobile. The fact that the hugely popular game from China’s Tencent was spared came as a relief to many gamers in India. Not all Tencent apps were so lucky. WeChat was among the dozens of apps banned by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. A slew of the company’s QQ-branded apps were... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3091219/indian-gamers-are-relieved-pubg-mobile-isnt-one-indias-59-banned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3091219/indian-gamers-are-relieved-pubg-mobile-isnt-one-indias-59-banned?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jun 2020 11:45:43 +0000 China has some of the strictest gaming regulations in the world. The government has long argued that it has to protect minors from gaming addiction, and it’s done so by pushing companies to limit anyone under 18 years old to just 90 minutes of gameplay a day – or three hours on holidays. But this hasn’t stopped kids from playing their favourite games and racking up huge bills from in-game spending. It’s become such a big problem that state new agency Xinhua published an article this week... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3090778/fake-ids-and-smartphone-arcades-how-kids-china-defy-anti-addiction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3090778/fake-ids-and-smartphone-arcades-how-kids-china-defy-anti-addiction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jun 2020 00:00:19 +0000 Tencent’s mysterious Pokémon project has finally been revealed -- and it looks like the Chinese giant is drawing inspiration from its most famous game. Pokémon Unite is a new five-on-five team battle game coming to Nintendo Switch and smartphones. Players team up in multiplayer battles, each picking a Pokémon like Pikachu, Charmander or Snorlax. Then they venture out into an arena to battle wild Pokémon and capture territory from the opposing team -- while defending their own from attack. If... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3090471/tencents-pokemon-unite-league-legends-pikachu-nintendo-switch-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3090471/tencents-pokemon-unite-league-legends-pikachu-nintendo-switch-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jun 2020 15:06:22 +0000 If getting your kids to brush their teeth is a constant struggle, there’s a new smartphone game for you. In Pokémon Smile, your aim is to rescue captured Pokémon by defeating cavity-causing bacteria. The only way to do that? Brushing your teeth properly. The augmented reality game puts your face on the screen (wearing a Pokémon cap) while it judges how well you’re brushing your teeth. Just like other Pokémon games, there’s a Pokédex that tracks all of the different creatures you’ve saved through... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3089767/kid-friendly-pokemon-smile-delights-adult-fans-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3089767/kid-friendly-pokemon-smile-delights-adult-fans-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Jun 2020 08:14:14 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS While most gamers watched Sony’s PlayStation 5 unveiling in the afternoon or evening, in China the event was broadcast at 4am. But that didn’t stop the country’s gamers. Chinese social media is flooded with opinions and memes about Sony’s latest home console. The PlayStation 5’s most eye-catching feature is undoubtedly the look of the console itself, and gamers in China are divided on whether it looks good or not. Those who like it say it looks... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3088847/gamers-china-think-playstation-5-looks-weird-theyll-buy-it-anyway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3088847/gamers-china-think-playstation-5-looks-weird-theyll-buy-it-anyway?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:45:06 +0000 This story originally appeared as an opinion piece on Abacus The PlayStation 5 is almost here. Sony will show off their new console in a pre-recorded video on Thursday. Gamers around the world will be tuning in for their first glimpse at the latest PlayStation… even in China, where it’ll be 4am. “Staying up late!” said one poster on Weibo. Another said “I’ll just buy it the moment it launches!” The PlayStation 5 will arrive right as China’s massive gaming industry is investing more in console... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3088621/can-sony-finally-crack-china-playstation-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3088621/can-sony-finally-crack-china-playstation-5?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2020 08:34:04 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Ever since Harry Potter: Magic Awakened was announced last October, fans have been eagerly awaiting the new game based on the franchise. But a new round of beta testing might dampen some of the early excitement, as many of the players seem disappointed with the game. “How rigid is the gameplay?” one user said on TapTap, a game review site. “[It] built a grand magic world, but the core gameplay is playing cards with other students in a dark room.” “I’m... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3088084/harry-potter-magic-awakened-beta-test-players-are-disappointed-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3088084/harry-potter-magic-awakened-beta-test-players-are-disappointed-game?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jun 2020 11:41:40 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS For the first time in 30 years, Hong Kong banned an organized commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, citing restrictions on gatherings amid the Covid-19 pandemic. So instead, players of the popular Nintendo Switch game Animal Crossing: New Horizons have found their own way to mark the event with a virtual candlelight vigil. Animal Crossing players started marking the event early by uploading photos to social media showing their virtual... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3087591/animal-crossing-players-organize-virtual-vigils-tiananmen-square?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3087591/animal-crossing-players-organize-virtual-vigils-tiananmen-square?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2020 11:10:52 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Ubisoft is suing Apple and Google for selling a Chinese game that allegedly rips off the French giant’s blockbuster title Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege. The mobile game in question, Area F2, is currently available for download on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. Ubisoft said the two companies refused to remove the game even after they were informed that it infringed on the company's copyrights, according to Bloomberg. The game’s website... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3084929/ubisoft-sues-apple-and-google-over-alleged-rainbow-six-siege-clone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3084929/ubisoft-sues-apple-and-google-over-alleged-rainbow-six-siege-clone?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2020 12:39:08 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Bright Memory: Infinite isn’t a blockbuster yet. The game hasn’t even been completed. But Microsoft already has high hopes. The dazzling first-person shooter, featuring agents investigating supernatural phenomena in the year 2036, was the first game Microsoft chose to show at its much-awaited Xbox Series X teaser showcase this month. A 40-minute demo of the game, first released last year, currently has a positive rating in 90% of the more than 3,000... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3084804/how-one-man-built-xbox-series-x-standout-bright-memory-infinite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3084804/how-one-man-built-xbox-series-x-standout-bright-memory-infinite?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2020 00:00:15 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS If you’re a big Animal Crossing fan, a company in Hong Kong might be offering your dream job. Yummy House, a local food chain in the city, recently drew a lot of attention online when it offered HK$20,000 (US$2,580) for a job building a virtual island inside the hit new Nintendo Switch game Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The requirements? You need to be creative, have artistic skills and have 100 hours playing the game under your belt. With its new job... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3084594/wanted-animal-crossing-expert-build-virtual-island-us2500?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3084594/wanted-animal-crossing-expert-build-virtual-island-us2500?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2020 09:20:52 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS One of the most popular games on the Nintendo Switch right now is Super Mario Odyssey. In this game, you play the titular hero as he goes from one adventure to the next while changing hats and costumes. But if you happen to be playing the game in China, you might notice that something seems a bit off. It’s the little details: Mario’s pirate costume is missing an eye patch and a skull from its hat. And all the text is missing from the map on the game’s... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3084474/heres-why-pirate-mario-doesnt-get-eye-patch-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3084474/heres-why-pirate-mario-doesnt-get-eye-patch-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2020 21:00:14 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS When gamers around the world tuned in to see their first glimpse of games on the next Xbox, the very first game they saw was a first-person shooter set in a classical Chinese garden, complete with bamboo trees and pagoda lanterns. That first title showed off at the event on Thursday was Bright Memory: Infinite, a game Microsoft’s Damon Baker said was made by just one individual in China. It’s a designation that impressed fans who have embraced the... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3083510/rip-xbox-darling-strange-saga-bright-memory-infinite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3083510/rip-xbox-darling-strange-saga-bright-memory-infinite?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2020 08:41:21 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS It’s been three years since Google’s AlphaGo marked a new era in artificial intelligence by beating champion Lee Sedol in Go, an ancient Chinese board game. Now AI is moving on to video games as players of China's most popular title recently found out. Honor of Kings is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) mobile game inspired by League of Legends. The fantasy role playing game, known internationally as Arena of Valor, has 70 million daily active... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3083018/players-chinas-most-popular-game-are-training-tencents-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3083018/players-chinas-most-popular-game-are-training-tencents-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2020 21:00:11 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Did you rediscover an old game that you haven’t played for ages during the coronavirus pandemic? Or did you once again pick up game controllers you had lying around collecting dust? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you’re not alone. Research firm Niko Partners recently surveyed more than 1,000 gamers in China to see how they fared during the first three months of the year, which was the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak in China. With... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3082972/more-people-turned-games-during-pandemic-lockdown-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3082972/more-people-turned-games-during-pandemic-lockdown-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2020 10:57:33 +0000