TENCENT(HK:00700) Hu Xiu·2025-09-01 16:21Core Viewpoint - Tencent Games is poised to capitalize on industry trends with the upcoming release of "Path of Exile: Ascendancy," which has shown significant success overseas and is expected to perform well in the domestic market [1][2][3]. Market Performance - "Path of Exile: Ascendancy" topped the Steam sales chart for eight consecutive weeks, achieving nearly 600,000 concurrent players across all platforms and a peak viewership of 1.23 million on Twitch [4]. - The game has garnered over 2.25 million pre-registrations on its official website [4]. Industry Reputation - The game received multiple accolades in the Steam 2024 awards, including "Platinum Level New Product" and "Most Popular Game" [5]. - Tencent's senior vice president praised the game's development team for their community engagement and continuous improvement [5][6]. Development Strategy - Tencent has acquired a majority stake in Grinding Gear Games (GGG) but allows for independent operation, similar to its management of Riot Games [12]. - GGG's focus on community feedback and innovative gameplay design is expected to enhance the game's appeal [10][15]. Gameplay Features - "Path of Exile: Ascendancy" emphasizes high freedom in character builds and complex skill interactions, distinguishing it from mainstream ARPGs [16][18]. - The game introduces a more dynamic loot system, allowing for random drops from any monster, enhancing player engagement [22][23]. Localization and AI Integration - The game aims for extensive localization, with over one million words of text and 17,000 lines of voice acting in Chinese [31]. - An AI assistant will be integrated to provide guidance without restricting player freedom, enhancing the overall gaming experience [34][35]. Market Trends - The success of "Delta Action" has reignited interest in PC gaming, with a reported daily active user count exceeding 20 million [41]. - Tencent's dominance in the gaming market is reinforced by its strong portfolio, with seven out of the top ten games in the net cafe rankings being Tencent titles [45]. Future Outlook - The gaming industry is witnessing a revival in PC gaming, driven by successful titles like "Black Myth: Wukong," which has increased player interest in the platform [52]. - Despite challenges such as hardware limitations and strict regulatory approvals, the trend towards multi-platform gaming is expected to continue [54].