长青游戏背后，腾讯的逡巡与抉择

Core Viewpoint - Tencent is shifting its focus towards "evergreen games" as a strategic response to the changing dynamics in the gaming industry, particularly in light of recent legal challenges and market conditions [4][6][21]. Group 1: Evergreen Games Strategy - The term "evergreen games" refers to projects that have sustained popularity and revenue over time, with Tencent defining them as games generating annual revenue of at least 4 billion RMB and maintaining a daily active user (DAU) count of over 5 million for mobile games [6][7]. - Tencent currently has 14 games that meet the evergreen standard, including flagship titles like "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite" [7][11]. - The gaming industry has experienced a significant downturn since 2020, leading to a reduction in new project launches and a scarcity of blockbuster games, which has prompted Tencent to focus on maximizing the potential of its existing evergreen titles [7][12]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Challenges - The gaming industry is facing a cyclical downturn, with a shift in player preferences towards diverse entertainment options such as live streaming and short videos, making the development of evergreen games a necessity for survival [43][44]. - Tencent's investments in content-heavy games and large-scale projects have not yielded the expected returns, leading to a strategic pivot back to platform games that leverage its established social networks and user bases [21][25][44]. - The company has faced significant challenges in developing new content-driven games, as evidenced by the high costs and risks associated with such projects, which have led to a preference for investing in existing successful titles [27][31]. Group 3: Development and Innovation - Tencent's approach to game development emphasizes the importance of industrialized processes and the ability to produce engaging content consistently, which is crucial for maintaining player interest in evergreen games [40][41]. - The company has recognized that the success of its evergreen games relies not only on strong operational strategies but also on the capability of development teams to deliver interesting content regularly [10][12]. - Tencent's historical investments in various game genres, including first-person shooters and MOBA games, have positioned it well to capitalize on the evergreen game strategy, as these genres typically have higher player retention rates [34][40].