#SOURCES TENCENT TIMI STUDIOS KINGS CALL PC#

Games are one of the most accessible ways to engage with the metaverse-and the medium that Tencent will lean on in its endeavors. Pony Ma, chairman and CEO of the company, told investors during its 2021 Q3 earnings call that Tencent will build its own metaverse through “multiple pathways.” Tencent is one of the largest video game companies in the world. The tech giant will acquire Black Shark for RMB 2.7 billion (USD 420 million) and says it will provide games and content to the hardware maker. This will mark Tencent’s first investment in a hardware maker related to its metaverse business. “The company plans to have 3,500 staff working on this segment by the end of the year with internal teams in China and the US as well as newly acquired studios around the world.News Baidu launches Xirang metaverse environment

#SOURCES TENCENT TIMI STUDIOS KINGS CALL PC#

“Tencent is building out teams that can work on high-end live-service games that reach console and PC players overseas,” Ahmad explained. Moving forward, it will be interesting to track Tencent’s continued investment into the global games market. The company already boasts stakes–or outright ownership–of many overseas studios including Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, and dozens more. Tencent has stated that it eventually wants half of its players to come from outside Asia, and its investment into Yager is clearly a step in that direction. The Chinese company has become Tencent’s go-to developer for mobile titles, and operates a handful of chart-topping games like Honor of Kings- Arena of Valor internationally–and Crossfire Legends. Notably, both Call of Duty: Mobile and Pokémon Unite are developed by TiMi Studios. Games like Call of Duty: Mobile have done gangbusters, and upcoming MOBA Pokémon Unite–which recently got a launch date–will undoubtedly be a big hit when it eventually reaches mobile devices in September. A large part of this strategy stems from Tencent’s penchant for adapting popular IP for mobile platforms. Over the last several years, the company’s industry footprint has become unrivaled as it has pursued its aggressive expansion strategy. It is doing this both internally and through majority stakes in overseas gaming firms that have experience in this sector.” “Tencent plans to invest in large-scale, high-production games that can scale across multiple platforms, are accessible (F2P) and target a global audience. “Tencent has been looking to invest in companies that can support its latest endeavour of building AAA games, an area where Yager has experience,” Ahmad explained.

In May, Niko Partners released a report stating that Tencent had already closed 51 gaming deals in 2021, a number that has assuredly grown in the weeks since. Tencent’s majority stake is part of a larger push by the company to expand its video game business outside Asia. “The majority stake shows that Yager was happy with Tencent’s initial investment and sees the company as a strong long-term partner that can support the growth of the studio’s current initiatives and help it gain access to China.” “Yager has been looking to expand into free-to-play, as well as explore mobile, which are areas where Tencent are strong,” Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at Niko Partners, told GameDaily. For Tencent, gaining a majority investment in Yager was an attractive prospect thanks to the latter’s push into the F2P market. The studio will remain independent as part of the deal, but it will gain access to Tencent’s vast resources. Yager is best known for critically acclaimed shooter Spec Ops: The Line and employs a staff of around 140 people. With Tencent we now have a powerful, globally operating partner to support our strategic plans for Yager.” “For us, the majority stake means we have the resources to expand the studio and the games in development. “Tencent’s new investment shows a great deal of trust in us and confidence in the huge potential behind the creative pivot of The Cycle, our high-stakes PvPvE shooter,” Timo Ullmann, managing director at Yager, said in a statement. The company is also currently developing The Cycle, an upcoming free-to-play battle royale with a focus on PvE elements. The news follows last year’s minority acquisition, and will help Yager continue its foray into self-publishing. Chinese tech behemoth has acquired a majority stake in German developer Yager, the two companies announced this week.

Sources tencent timi studios kings call