Core Insights - 2025 is anticipated to be a significant year for China's gaming market and the "going global" trend, with a notable increase in the number of game approvals, reaching 1,676 titles, a 28.33% increase from 2024 [1] - The trend of multi-platform game approvals is rising, with 103 titles approved for multiple platforms in 2025, marking a 9.57% increase from 2024 [1] Group 1: Multi-Platform Game Development - Major companies are increasingly applying for game approvals across multiple platforms, including client and console versions, as seen with Tencent's "Honor of Kings World" and Perfect World's "Yihuan" [2] - Multi-platform games are contributing to revenue growth for listed companies, with Tencent's "Delta Action" and NetEase's "Yanyun Sixteen Sounds" achieving significant player engagement and sales [2] Group 2: Revenue Trends in Gaming - The client game market is experiencing a strong recovery, with sales revenue reaching 78.16 billion yuan in 2025, a 14.97% increase, while the console game market is growing rapidly with a revenue of 8.362 billion yuan, an 86.33% increase [3] - The rise of multi-platform games is attributed to broader player coverage and increased confidence in high-quality game production, particularly following the success of "Black Myth: Wukong" [3] Group 3: Channel Revenue Sharing Dynamics - The revenue-sharing model with distribution channels is becoming increasingly contentious, with Android channels taking up to 50% and Apple around 30%, impacting profit margins for game developers [4] - High distribution fees are prompting developers to explore alternative channels, with many opting to withdraw from Android platforms to mitigate costs [4][5] - The emergence of lower-cost client platforms is seen as a strategic response to high mobile game distribution fees, indicating a potential shift in the market dynamics [5]

Group 1 - The year 2025 is anticipated to be a significant year for China's gaming market and the "going global" trend, with a total of 1,676 domestic online game licenses issued, representing a 28.33% increase from 1,306 in 2024 [1] - The number of multi-platform game licenses reached 103 in 2025, up 9.57% from 94 in 2024, indicating a shift towards more diverse gaming platforms beyond mobile [1] - Major companies are increasingly applying for licenses for client and console versions alongside mobile versions, reflecting a strategic shift in the gaming industry [2] Group 2 - Tencent's game "Delta Action" has become a top performer in the domestic market and is expected to drive overseas growth, while NetEase's "Yanyun Sixteen Sounds" has set a new record with over 15 million global players within a month of its overseas launch [2] - The client game market is experiencing a strong recovery, with actual sales revenue reaching 78.16 billion yuan in 2025, a 14.97% year-on-year increase, while the console game market saw an 86.33% increase to 8.362 billion yuan [3] - The rise of multi-platform games is attributed to their broader player base and increased confidence in producing AAA games, which require higher technical standards [3] Group 3 - The revenue-sharing model with distribution channels has become increasingly contentious, with Android channels taking up to 50% and Apple around 30%, squeezing profit margins for game developers [4] - High distribution costs have led several major titles to withdraw from Android channels, marking a significant shift in the industry [4] - Many developers are now turning to client platforms, which typically have lower or zero revenue-sharing rates, as a strategic response to high mobile game distribution costs [5][6]

Group 1 - The year 2025 is anticipated to be a significant year for China's gaming market and the "going global" trend, with a total of 1,676 domestic online game licenses issued, representing a 28.33% increase from 1,306 in 2024 [1] - The number of multi-platform game licenses reached 103 in 2025, up 9.57% from 94 in 2024, indicating a shift towards more diverse gaming platforms beyond mobile [1] - Major companies are increasingly applying for licenses for client and console versions alongside mobile versions, reflecting a strategic shift in the gaming industry [2] Group 2 - Tencent's "Delta Action" and NetEase's "Yanyun Sixteen Sounds" have achieved significant success, with the latter surpassing 15 million global players within a month of its overseas launch, setting a new record for Chinese games going global [2] - The client game market is experiencing a strong recovery, with actual sales revenue reaching 78.16 billion yuan in 2025, a 14.97% year-on-year increase, while the console game market saw an 86.33% increase to 8.362 billion yuan [3] - The rise of multi-platform games is attributed to their broader player base and increased confidence in producing AAA games, which require higher technical standards [3] Group 3 - The revenue-sharing model with distribution channels has become increasingly contentious, with Android channels demanding up to 50% and Apple around 30%, squeezing profit margins for game developers [4] - High distribution fees have led several top companies to withdraw popular games from Android channels, marking a significant shift in the industry [4] - Adjustments in revenue-sharing agreements, such as Apple's reduction to 15% and some Android channels negotiating down to 10-20%, indicate a changing landscape for game distribution [4][5] Group 4 - The increase in client games is seen as a strategic response by game developers to combat high mobile game distribution fees, suggesting a potential shift away from the current "channel dominance" model [6]

Core Insights - The gaming industry is evolving from being primarily an entertainment product to a flexible tool that drives digital transformation in traditional sectors such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing, creating new growth opportunities [1][2] Group 1: Technological Integration - The evolution of game engines is crucial as they transition from tools for game development to universal platforms supporting digital transformation across various industries [1] - Unity has expanded its engine capabilities to serve industries like automotive and smart cities, enhancing traditional sectors' R&D and operational efficiency while also creating new opportunities for game developers [1][2] Group 2: AI Integration - AI has transformed from a cost-reduction tool to a creative engine for game experiences, influencing the entire game lifecycle from planning to operation [2] - The integration of AI in gaming is leading to applications in education and healthcare, promoting a new model of "technological equity and enhanced experiences" [2] Group 3: Application in Healthcare - Games are being utilized in healthcare to address psychological and cognitive issues, showing effectiveness in alleviating anxiety and improving attention [2] - Approximately ten gamified digital therapy products have been approved globally for treating conditions like ADHD and depression [2] Group 4: Cultural and Social Impact - The design thinking and immersive experiences from gaming are being applied in non-entertainment fields, providing innovative solutions to social issues [3] - Tencent's "Cognitive Training" product has been clinically tested and is now being prescribed in hospitals, marking a significant step for gamified digital therapy in mainstream healthcare [3] Group 5: Cultural Consumption and Ecosystem Building - Successful game IPs are evolving into ecological nodes that deeply connect with urban spaces, the real economy, and cultural life [4] - High-quality digital IPs are becoming new types of "urban infrastructure," enhancing public services and injecting innovation into cities [4] Group 6: Long-term Cultural Value - Companies are focusing on long-term strategies to deepen cultural narratives within historical-themed IPs, creating a competitive edge through meticulous cultural research [4][5] - The integration of gaming IPs into physical spaces and cultural values reflects a shift from superficial interactions to deep integration, offering imaginative possibilities for industry and societal development [5]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the media industry [3] Core Insights - The media sector outperformed the market in November, with the Shenwan Media Index rising by 1.69%, surpassing the CSI 300 Index by 4.14 percentage points, ranking 7th among 31 industries [4][20] - The number of game approvals reached a new high, with 178 domestic games and 6 imported games approved in November, contributing to a total of 1,625 game approvals from January to November, a year-on-year increase of 26.8% [4][28] - The gaming market revenue in October was 31.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 7.8%, driven by strong product cycles from leading companies [4][32] Summary by Sections Market and Industry Review - The media sector's performance in November was strong, with a 1.69% increase in the Shenwan Media Index, outperforming the CSI 300 Index [4][20] - The current TTM-PE for the Shenwan Media Index is 42.6x, positioned at the 82.2% percentile over the past five years [20][26] Gaming - The number of game approvals in November was the highest in three years, with a total of 178 domestic and 6 imported games approved [28] - The gaming market revenue in October was 31.4 billion yuan, with mobile gaming revenue at 22.6 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 2.4% [32] - The overseas revenue for Chinese self-developed games reached 1.799 billion USD in October, marking an 11.9% year-on-year increase [41] Film and Television - The total box office in November reached 3.553 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 89.3%, primarily due to the success of "Zootopia 2" [49] - The top five films in November included "Zootopia 2," which grossed over 2.2 billion yuan within nine days of release [60] - The drama market saw high viewership, with "The Tang Dynasty Mysteries" leading with 1.5 billion views [67] AI Applications - The report highlights advancements in AI video models, including the launch of the O1 video model by Keling AI, which allows users to generate videos from text prompts [79] - PixVerse V5.5 was released, enabling the creation of multi-angle narrative videos [84] - Google's Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro were launched, showcasing significant improvements in AI capabilities [91] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on the gaming sector's new product cycles and AI applications, recommending companies such as Giant Network, G-bits, and K-Game Network [96] - The December investment portfolio includes Giant Network, K-Game Network, Bilibili, and HuiLiang Technology [7]

Core Insights - The article highlights the ongoing trend of Chinese gaming companies successfully expanding into overseas markets, with large firms optimizing classic titles and smaller firms innovating to break through [2][10] - The "Evergreen List" and "Potential Evergreen List" are introduced, showcasing games that have maintained strong performance in international markets [2][10] Group 1: Evergreen Games - In November, 26 games made it to the "Evergreen List," an increase of 3 titles from October, with notable entries including "Gossip Harbor," "PUBG MOBILE," and "Puzzles & Survival" [2][9] - The total estimated revenue for these 26 games in November reached approximately $299 million, equivalent to about 2.11 billion yuan, with 9 games exceeding $10 million in revenue [2][9][10] Group 2: Potential Evergreen Games - The "Potential Evergreen List" features 14 games, with a decrease of 4 titles from October, indicating a competitive landscape [2][10] - "Whiteout Survival" led the list with an estimated revenue of $86.21 million (approximately 609 million yuan) in November, followed by "崩坏:星穹铁道" and "Top Heroes," each surpassing $20 million [10][11] Group 3: Industry Trends and Support - The gaming industry faces challenges due to global economic pressures, but there are supportive policies from various cities in China aimed at facilitating game exports [11] - The adoption of AI technologies is helping to reduce costs and improve efficiency in game development and marketing strategies, providing a more sustainable path for Chinese games in international markets [11]

Core Insights - The report highlights the performance of Chinese mobile games in overseas markets for November 2025, showcasing significant revenue growth driven by seasonal events and promotional activities. Group 1: Top Performing Games - Point Interactive's leading titles, "Whiteout Survival" and "Kingshot," secured the top two positions in overseas mobile game revenue rankings, benefiting from Halloween and Thanksgiving events [1] - "Whiteout Survival" maintained its number one position in revenue due to successful seasonal activities and player engagement [1] - "Kingshot" achieved the second position, driven by promotional events during Double 11 and Thanksgiving [1] Group 2: Notable Revenue Growth - Lemon Micro's "Gossip Harbor" continued to show stable revenue growth, ranking third in the revenue chart, thanks to Thanksgiving and New Year events [2] - Florere Game's "Last Z: Survival Shooter" experienced an 11% revenue increase in November, reaching a total of over $400 million, with the U.S. and South Korea as key markets [2] - miHoYo's "Honkai: Star Rail" saw a 130% surge in overseas revenue following a major update, climbing to the sixth position in the revenue rankings [3] Group 3: New Game Launches - ByteDance's new 3D ARPG "BLEACH: Soul Resonance" launched on November 21, quickly topping download charts in multiple markets and ranking fifth in revenue growth within ten days [4] - Glacier Network's SLG game "X-Clash" reported a 200% revenue increase, marking its debut in the growth rankings at sixth place [4] - Lingxi Interactive's strategy game "Nobunaga's Ambition: True War" entered the growth rankings at ninth place, leveraging its strong IP appeal in the Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau markets [5] Group 4: Emerging Titles - New entries in the growth rankings include "Lootfiend: Idle Dungeons," "Blue Planet: The King is Busy," "Kaitian," and "Duet Night Abyss" [6] - Hungry Studio's puzzle game "Block Blast!" achieved a 4% increase in downloads, leading the overseas mobile game download rankings [6] - Glacier Network's "X-Clash" maintained its position as the second most downloaded game in November, with nearly 35 million downloads [6]

Core Insights - The mobile game market in November 2025 showcased a diverse range of popular titles, with classic IP adaptations gaining significant traction and established products experiencing renewed growth driven by quality content [1] Download Rankings - The top three games in the download rankings were "Delta Operation," "Valorant: Source Action," and "Honor of Kings" [1] - Six new games entered the download rankings, with "Battle Heroes," "Jing·Jie: Blade Sound," and "Dawn of the Wasteland" being notable new releases [1] - "Jing·Jie: Blade Sound," a 3D action mobile game based on the popular anime "BLEACH," achieved a strong performance, reaching the top 12 in the download rankings shortly after its release [1][3] - The game had over 15 million pre-registrations, indicating strong IP appeal and player interest [1] Game Features and Innovations - "Jing·Jie: Blade Sound" is noted for its high fidelity to the original anime, with a focus on storyline, art style, and character abilities [3] - The game features a unique combat system that allows for skill combinations and recreates iconic battles from the anime, enhancing player engagement [3] - "Dawn of the Wasteland," a survival building game, also performed well, entering the top 17 of the download rankings with over 8 million pre-registrations [4] - The game emphasizes a low barrier to entry for players, allowing for quick immersion in survival mechanics [4][6] Revenue Rankings - "Honor of Kings" and "Delta Operation" topped the revenue rankings, with "Endless Winter" rising to third place [4] - Six new titles entered the revenue rankings, including "Honkai: Star Rail," "Arknights," and "QQ Dance" [4] - "Honkai: Star Rail" achieved a notable rise to the top 12 in revenue rankings following the release of its 3.7 version, which included new characters and engaging events [7][9] Player Engagement and Marketing Strategies - The 3.7 version of "Honkai: Star Rail" featured a new character and various promotional activities that significantly boosted player engagement [9] - "Light: Encounter" saw a substantial increase in revenue due to recent content updates and events, including a Halloween-themed activity and a collaboration with "Werewolf" [10][12] - The game has also expanded its cultural reach through cross-media projects, including an animated film that enhances its IP influence [12][19] Market Trends - The November rankings reflect a trend towards deep content innovation and refined operations as key drivers of growth in the competitive mobile gaming market [19] - The majority of games in the rankings were action-oriented, with Tencent and NetEase being the leading publishers [19]

Core Insights - The mobile game market in November 2025 showcased a diverse range of popular titles, with classic IP adaptations gaining significant traction and established products experiencing renewed success through quality content [1][12] Download Rankings - The top three games in the downloads chart were "Delta Action," "Valorant: Source Action," and "Honor of Kings" [1] - Six new games entered the download rankings, including "Hundred Battle Heroes," "Jing·Jie: Blade Sound," and "Dawn of the Wilderness," with "Jing·Jie: Blade Sound" achieving a notable position at Top 12 [1][3] Revenue Rankings - "Honor of Kings" and "Delta Action" ranked first and second in the revenue chart, respectively, while "Endless Winter" rose one position to secure the third spot [1][6] - Six new titles entered the revenue rankings, including "Honkai: Star Rail," "Tomorrow's Ark," and "QQ Dance," with "Honkai: Star Rail" making a significant leap to Top 12 following its 3.7 version launch [6][8] Game Features and Innovations - "Jing·Jie: Blade Sound" is a 3D action mobile game based on the popular anime "BLEACH," featuring high fidelity to the original IP, including storyline and character skills [3] - The game introduces unique combat mechanics, such as the "Blade Clash" system, enhancing player engagement through skill coordination [3] - "Dawn of the Wilderness," a survival construction game, emphasizes simplicity and immersion, attracting over 800,000 pre-registrations before its launch [4] Publisher Performance - Tencent had 11 products in the download rankings, while NetEase had 3 [5] - In the revenue rankings, Tencent also led with 13 products, compared to NetEase's 3 [11] Market Trends - The November market performance highlights the importance of deep content innovation and refined operations as key drivers for growth, regardless of product maturity [12]

Core Insights - The popularity of Chinese mobile games in overseas markets remains strong, with major companies relying on classic sequels to maintain their positions, while smaller developers are breaking through in niche segments with innovative gameplay [1] Group 1: Evergreen Games - In October, 23 mobile games made it to the "Evergreen List," with a total estimated overseas revenue of approximately $332 million, equivalent to about 2.363 billion yuan [7] - The top three games on the "Evergreen List" are "Gossip Harbor," "Genshin Impact," and "PUBG MOBILE," with estimated revenues of $56.71 million (approximately 404 million yuan), $40.65 million (approximately 290 million yuan), and $32.31 million (approximately 230 million yuan) respectively [7][8] - The number of games on the "Evergreen List" decreased by 2 compared to the end of Q3, while the "Potential Evergreen List" saw an increase of 3 games, totaling 18 [1] Group 2: Potential Evergreen Games - The "Potential Evergreen List" includes 18 games, with Century Games having the highest representation with 3 titles, while Tencent and miHoYo each have 2 [8] - "Whiteout Survival" from Century Games led the estimated revenue for October at $81.93 million (approximately 584 million yuan), surpassing "Gossip Harbor" [9] - Other notable games on the "Potential Evergreen List" include "Top Heroes," "Dark War: Survival," and "Honkai: Star Rail," each exceeding $20 million in estimated revenue [9] Group 3: Industry Trends - Chinese game developers are increasingly showcasing maturity and stability in their globalization efforts, focusing on innovative gameplay and content expression [10] - The industry is adopting more diverse commercialization strategies, including refined operations and localized marketing approaches [10]