Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-11-11 23:09Core Insights - The gaming industry has experienced explosive growth over the past decade, and the future direction for gaming companies is increasingly focused on new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, which are expected to reshape the industry's value chain [1] - A significant number of A-share gaming companies reported a decrease in sales expenses year-on-year in the first three quarters of this year, indicating a shift in strategy away from traditional user acquisition methods [1][12] Company Performance - Youzu Interactive has seen substantial profit growth this year, with a reported revenue of 1.019 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.2%, and a net profit of 76.36 million yuan, reflecting a staggering year-on-year growth of 1374.6%, ranking first among 23 companies [2][3] - Kunlun Wanwei has adopted an aggressive AI strategy, investing 970 million yuan in 2023 and planning to increase this to 1.543 billion yuan in 2024. The company reported a revenue of 2.072 billion yuan in Q3, a 56.16% increase year-on-year, but still faced a net loss of 666 million yuan [6][7] - Century Huatong has established an AI Development and Management Committee to systematically integrate AI technology across all business areas, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and user experience [8] Strategic Shifts - The traditional "buying traffic" strategy is becoming less effective, with many companies realizing that retaining users relies more on game quality than on advertising alone. This shift is evident as over half of the gaming companies reported a decrease in sales expenses [12] - Companies like Youzu Interactive and Kunlun Wanwei are focusing on AI as a second growth engine, with Youzu launching its AI tool platform "YOOZOO.AI" to enhance operational efficiency and user experience [3][5] Market Trends - The gaming industry is witnessing a trend where companies are moving away from heavy reliance on user acquisition through advertising, as exemplified by the reduction in sales expenses by major players like Sanqi Interactive [12] - Despite the overall decline in sales expenses for many companies, some, such as Century Huatong, continue to increase their marketing expenditures significantly, indicating a divergence in strategies within the industry [12]