Group 1 - The gaming industry is a significant category and growth point in China's service trade, with over 4,000 gaming companies concentrated in Shenzhen, forming an ecosystem of "large companies leading + small teams innovating" [1][7] - In 2024, the overseas sales revenue of domestic games is expected to exceed $18.5 billion, showcasing the success of Chinese games in international markets [1][8] - Chinese games are increasingly recognized as a new "cultural business card" for contemporary China, appealing to millions of overseas players through traditional culture and innovative design [1][8] Group 2 - A "flower planting" game from China has gained immense popularity in Thailand, attracting 20,000 users daily [3] - The cultural dissemination through gaming is subtle yet impactful, allowing overseas players to experience Chinese traditional culture and aesthetics [4] - The game "Black Myth: Wukong" has gained global attention in 2024, demonstrating the strength of China's self-developed games, with other titles like "Delta Force" and "Ming Tide" also achieving significant user engagement [5][8] Group 3 - The acceleration of Chinese games entering overseas markets is evident, with a reported overseas market sales revenue of $4.805 billion in the first quarter of 2025, marking a year-on-year growth of 17.92% [8] - Overseas players are not only engaging with the games but are also interested in visiting real-life locations depicted in the games, indicating a deeper cultural connection [8]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Recommended," indicating a favorable outlook for the industry with expectations that the industry index will outperform the benchmark index [20]. Core Insights - The gaming market in China is showing steady recovery, with a market size of 28.051 billion yuan in May 2025, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 9.86% and a month-on-month increase of 2.56% [4][5]. - The issuance of game licenses has reached new highs, benefiting from policy support that has significantly reduced the average approval cycle and improved the efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises [6]. - Mobile games are performing particularly well, with a market size of 21.177 billion yuan in May 2025, growing by 11.96% year-on-year, surpassing the overall industry growth rate [8][9]. - The overseas sales revenue of self-developed games reached 1.577 billion USD in May 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 6.93% and a month-on-month growth of 1.50% [13][17]. Summary by Sections Market Overview - The gaming market in China has shown a steady recovery, with a market size of 28.051 billion yuan in May 2025, which is a 9.86% increase year-on-year and a 2.56% increase month-on-month [4][5]. - The client game market's growth is primarily driven by new and subsequent new releases, with significant contributions from titles like "Victory Goddess: New Hope" and "Three Kingdoms Fantasy Continent 2: Song of the Hero" [5]. Game License Issuance - The issuance of game licenses has shown a stepwise growth trend, with a total of 812 licenses issued from January to June 2025, a year-on-year increase of 21% [6]. - The average monthly issuance increased from 121 licenses in the second half of 2024 to 135 licenses in the first half of 2025, reflecting a 12% year-on-year growth [6]. Mobile Game Performance - The mobile game market size reached 21.177 billion yuan in May 2025, with a year-on-year growth of 11.96%, outpacing the overall industry growth [8]. - Notable new releases include "Brave Land" and "Three Kingdoms Fantasy Continent 2: Song of the Hero," which contributed significantly to the revenue [8]. Overseas Market Growth - The overseas sales revenue of self-developed games reached 1.577 billion USD in May 2025, with a year-on-year increase of 6.93% and a month-on-month increase of 1.50% [13]. - Several titles, such as "Kingshot" and "Tasty Travels: Merge Game," have shown remarkable performance in international markets, contributing to the overall growth [14][17].

Core Insights - The consensus in the gaming industry is that "going global" is essential for survival, with 33 Chinese companies entering the global mobile game publisher revenue top 100 in April, generating a total of $2 billion, accounting for 38.4% of the top 100's revenue [1][3] - Tencent's "Honor of Kings" saw a 71% revenue increase, reclaiming the top spot in global mobile game revenue, contributing to a 10% rise in Tencent's mobile gaming revenue [1] - The trend of Chinese gaming companies focusing on overseas markets is evident, with companies like Century Huatong and 37 Interactive Entertainment leading in revenue growth, while many A-share companies experienced revenue declines [3][5] Industry Performance - The actual sales revenue of China's self-developed games in the domestic market for 2024 is projected to be 260.736 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 1.7%, indicating a slowdown [5] - The overseas market for self-developed games reached $18.557 billion in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 13.39%, marking a continuous five-year trend of exceeding 100 billion yuan [5] - Century Huatong's overseas business revenue reached 11.367 billion yuan in 2024, accounting for 50.26% of its total revenue, highlighting the importance of international markets for revenue growth [5] Market Trends - The gaming industry is witnessing a shift towards high-quality game exports, with major players like Tencent and NetEase leading the charge to enhance China's global gaming influence [7] - A significant number of A-share gaming companies are experiencing revenue declines, but those heavily invested in overseas markets, such as 37 Interactive Entertainment and Century Huatong, are performing well [3][7] - The current landscape for Chinese games going global is characterized by a focus on mobile and casual games, capital investments, and breakthroughs in higher-end gaming technologies like VR and AI [9][10]