Core Insights - The gaming ETF (516010) has risen over 1%, with a net inflow exceeding 220 million yuan in the past 20 days, driven by a significant increase in game approvals and the acceleration of AI, indicating a sustained upward trend in the gaming industry [1] Group 1: Game Approval and Market Dynamics - The National Press and Publication Administration released approval information for domestic online games in November 2025, granting a total of 184 game licenses, of which 178 are for domestic games, marking the highest monthly issuance this year [1] - By November 2025, a total of 1,624 game licenses have been issued, significantly surpassing the total for the entire year of 2024 [1] - Key products approved include Bilibili's "Shining! Lumei," Perfect World's "Dream New Zhu Xian: Light Enjoy," Xishanju's "Star Sand Island," and Thunder Game's "Rebirth Immortal Path," covering various genres such as pet-catching, MMO, idle games, and female-oriented titles, indicating a diversification in supply structure [1] Group 2: ETF and Index Overview - The gaming ETF (516010) tracks the animation and gaming index (930901), which selects listed companies involved in animation production, game development and operation, and IP derivative sales from the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets [1] - This index reflects the overall performance of securities related to the animation and gaming industry, effectively capturing market dynamics within this sector [1]

Core Viewpoint - NetEase-S (09999) shares rose over 3%, currently up 3.27% at 221 HKD, with a trading volume of 708 million HKD [1] Group 1: Game Launch Performance - On November 15, "Where Winds Meet" was globally released on Steam, PlayStation, and Epic platforms [1] - Within 40 minutes of launch, the overseas version attracted over 500,000 players, with Steam recording a peak concurrent user count exceeding 140,000 [1] Group 2: Market Expectations and Future Growth - Huatai Securities noted that the overseas performance of "Where Winds Meet" exceeded market expectations, indicating potential for accelerated revenue realization in the medium to long term [1] - Dongfang Securities highlighted the recovery of Blizzard games and the strong performance of "Where Winds Meet" both domestically and internationally, with expectations for growth driven by the upcoming release of "Forgotten Sea" in 2026 [1]

Group 1 - The CEO of Xishanju, Guo Weiwei, has resigned from his position due to personal career planning, while continuing to serve as the Chief Producer [1] - Zou Tao, the CEO of Kingsoft Software, has been appointed as the acting CEO of Xishanju, with Guo reporting directly to him [1] - The internal letter from Xishanju highlights the current gaming industry as a phase of both opportunities and challenges, emphasizing the need for high-quality content and innovation in a competitive market [3] Group 2 - Xishanju aims to focus on its core business and leverage its quality IP matrix, technological accumulation, and strategic resources to enhance product quality and innovate content experiences [3] - The company expresses gratitude to its employees for their support and looks forward to collaborating on new ventures [3]

Group 1 - The CEO of Xishanju, Guo Weiwei, has submitted his resignation due to personal career planning reasons, and the board has accepted his request [1][3] - Guo Weiwei will continue to serve as the Chief Producer at Xishanju, while Zou Tao, the CEO of Kingsoft and Chairman of Xishanju, will act as the interim CEO [3] - Guo Weiwei has been with Kingsoft since 2004, serving in various roles including Vice President and CEO of Xishanju, and has been instrumental in the development of the popular game "Jian Xia Qing Yuan Online" [3][5] Group 2 - The gaming industry is currently facing both opportunities and challenges, with increasing demand for high-quality content and cultural expansion becoming new growth points [4] - The market competition is intensifying, requiring continuous product innovation and experience upgrades, which are critical issues for Xishanju's further development [4][5] - Xishanju, established in 1995, is a subsidiary of Kingsoft responsible for gaming, and has explored overseas markets since 2003 with the launch of its first online game [5]

Core Viewpoint - The gaming industry currently has a clear investment theme supported by policies, profitability, and valuation, with a total of 178 domestic games approved in November 2025 [1] Group 1: Policy Environment - Domestic regulatory policies are favorable and lenient, contributing to a positive outlook for the gaming sector [1] - The positioning of cultural exports is also seen as a beneficial factor for the industry [1] Group 2: Financial Performance - The third-quarter performance of the gaming industry significantly exceeded market expectations, effectively validating the profitability of the sector [1] - Most leading gaming companies are currently valued in the range of 15 to 20 times earnings [1] Group 3: Future Outlook - In the medium to long term, mid-tier gaming companies are expected to continue innovating in product gameplay and themes, driven by AI, which may lead to both valuation recovery and performance growth [1] - The entertainment attributes of gaming, supported by the "self-entertainment economy," are likely to sustain high levels of industry enthusiasm [1]

Group 1 - The core point of the article is the introduction of the football strategy game "FC Football Dream Theater" by Ru Yi Jing Xiu, marking a new exploration in mobile sports gaming [1] - The game allows players to experience the process of creating a football club and competing for continental championships, as well as the promotion and relegation system of real professional leagues [1] - This launch reflects the trend of game developers deeply exploring niche markets and is expected to enrich Ru Yi Jing Xiu's product matrix, positively impacting the company's long-term value [1] Group 2 - NetEase announced that "Onmyoji: Hundred Tales" will stop new content development after January 1, 2026, while keeping the servers operational [2] - The game, part of the "Onmyoji" IP, reached a peak position of 12th on the iOS game revenue chart after its launch in December 2019 [2] - This decision indicates the intense competition in the CCG sector, prompting NetEase to concentrate resources on more promising projects, testing the derivative capabilities of the "Onmyoji" IP [2] Group 3 - The release date for the game "Taiwu Scroll: Sky Curtain Heart Curtain" has been postponed to April 2026, as announced by the developer Fangluozhou Studio [3] - The delay is attributed to the team's desire to invest more time in system testing, experience optimization, content refinement, and final checks on the English version [3] - This postponement, while delaying the product launch, demonstrates the development team's commitment to quality and respect for player experience, which can enhance the long-term value and reputation of the core IP [3]

Core Insights - The game "Limitless Mecha" by Xishanju has failed to meet player expectations, leading to a significant drop in active users from a peak of 132,800 at launch to under 5,000 by November [1] - Other high-investment games like "Sword World" by Zhongyou and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" by NetEase have also underperformed, resulting in substantial financial losses [1][2] - The gaming industry is facing challenges due to increased competition, high sunk costs, and the need for better long-term project management [2][3] Industry Challenges - The overall market growth has plateaued, making it common for even high-investment games to underperform [3] - A significant portion of new games released on platforms like Steam fail to generate sufficient revenue, with 40% earning less than $100 [3] - The high costs associated with mid-to-heavyweight products reduce their flexibility and increase the impact of individual game performance on overall company health [3] Product-Specific Issues - "Sword World" struggled due to its reliance on an older IP and traditional aesthetics, failing to attract a broader audience [4] - "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" and "Limitless Mecha" faced issues with innovation and mismatched monetization strategies, leading to poor market reception [5][6] - Many developers rely on past successful experiences, which can stifle innovation and lead to repetitive game designs [8] Market Predictions and Adjustments - Companies often have opportunities to adjust their products before launch, but many fail to do so due to cognitive biases and reliance on existing product models [7][9] - The disconnect between marketing promises and actual gameplay experiences can lead to low user retention rates [7] - Companies face difficult decisions regarding whether to continue investing in underperforming products due to high sunk costs [8] Future Strategies - Some companies are attempting to pivot by restructuring teams and adjusting monetization strategies to recover initial investments [12] - Understanding consumer needs and differentiating products in a saturated market is crucial for future success [12][13] - The gaming industry must reconcile the tension between commercial viability and creative expression to find sustainable success [13]

Market Overview - The gaming sector experienced a decline of 0.42% on November 28, with Perfect World leading the drop [1] - The Shanghai Composite Index closed at 3888.6, up 0.34%, while the Shenzhen Component Index closed at 12984.08, up 0.85% [1] Individual Stock Performance - Perfect World (code: 002624) saw a significant drop of 6.59%, closing at 14.17, with a trading volume of 785,000 shares and a transaction value of 1.125 billion [2] - Other notable declines included 37 Interactive Entertainment (code: 002555) down 1.77% and Xunyou Technology (code: 300467) down 1.23% [2] - Conversely, WenTou Holdings (code: 600715) increased by 2.44%, closing at 2.52, with a trading volume of 396,000 shares and a transaction value of 98.45 million [1] Capital Flow Analysis - The gaming sector experienced a net outflow of 401 million from institutional investors, while retail investors saw a net inflow of 388 million [2][3] - Major stocks like Giant Network (code: 002558) had a net inflow of 113 million from institutional investors, but a net outflow from retail investors of 39.69 million [3] - Other stocks such as FuChun Co. (code: 300299) and MingChen Health (code: 002919) also showed mixed capital flows, with varying degrees of institutional and retail investor activity [3] ETF Performance - The Gaming ETF (code: 159869) tracking the China Animation and Gaming Index saw a recent decline of 4.37%, with a current P/E ratio of 36.05 [5] - The Food and Beverage ETF (code: 515170) had a slight increase of 0.17%, with a P/E ratio of 20.77 [5] - The Sci-Tech 50 ETF (code: 588000) experienced a decline of 3.10%, with a high P/E ratio of 149.48 [5]

Core Viewpoint - The actual controller of Perfect World, Chi Yufeng, plans to reduce his stake by up to 32.98 million shares, representing 1.70% of the total share capital, which could result in approximately 467 million yuan in cashing out. This decision comes shortly after the company reported a strong Q3 performance, raising concerns about the impact of continuous share reductions on the company's recovery phase [1][2]. Financial Performance - Perfect World reported a revenue of 5.417 billion yuan for the first three quarters of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 33%. The net profit attributable to shareholders reached 666 million yuan, a significant increase of 271.17%, reversing a loss of 1.288 billion yuan in 2024 [2]. - Despite the positive financial results, the stock price fell by 6.59% the day after the reduction announcement, indicating investor sensitivity to the controller's selling behavior [2]. Shareholder Actions - Chi Yufeng has cumulatively cashed out over 8.5 billion yuan since 2019 through various methods, including secondary market sales and agreements. If the current reduction is completed, his direct shareholding will drop to 5.99%, but he will still control 32.36% of the company through concerted actions [4]. - The company has maintained a high dividend policy even during periods of financial pressure, with a cash dividend of 2.29 billion yuan in 2021 despite a net profit of only 369 million yuan, reflecting a dividend payout ratio of 620% [4]. Strategic Adjustments - Perfect World has faced significant challenges, including project closures and workforce reductions, with employee numbers decreasing by 32% from 5,754 at the end of 2023 to 3,905 [3]. - The company is focusing resources on key projects like the open-world game "Yihuan," which has received positive market feedback and is expected to contribute significantly to revenue in 2026 [3]. Industry Context - The domestic mobile game market is experiencing a slowdown, with growth projected at 8.7% in 2025. Perfect World faces stiff competition from major titles like Tencent's "Yuanmeng Zhixing" and NetEase's "Yongjue Wujian" [5]. - The company is attempting to expand into overseas markets, with a 40% year-on-year revenue increase in Southeast Asia for "Perfect World Mobile," although global contributions remain below 20% [5][6]. Future Outlook - The reduction in shareholding may attract institutional investors, potentially improving the company's governance structure, as institutional ownership is currently only 2.75%, below the industry average [7]. - Perfect World plans to launch three new products, including "Yihuan," in 2026, with a projected 30% increase in R&D investment. The ability to innovate and execute its international strategy will be crucial for the company's long-term valuation [7].

Core Insights - The Chinese gaming industry has experienced significant growth since 2015, with annual revenue increasing from 140.7 billion to 325.7 billion yuan, highlighting a doubling in revenue over the past decade [1] - The industry is now facing challenges with high-investment games underperforming in the market, leading to potential financial burdens for developers [2][3] - The market is becoming saturated, with many new games failing to meet expectations, resulting in a higher risk for companies investing in heavy development [4][5] Industry Trends - The normalization of game approvals has led to a bottleneck in market growth, with increased competition causing rapid product iteration [4] - A significant percentage of new games on platforms like Steam are not generating sufficient revenue, indicating a challenging environment for game developers [4] - The high costs associated with mid-to-heavyweight games reduce their flexibility and increase the impact of individual product performance on overall company health [5] Company Challenges - Companies like Xishanju and Zhongyou have faced difficulties with high-investment titles such as "Jiexianji" and "Xianjian World," which have not met market expectations, leading to substantial financial write-downs [2][12] - The mismatch between product innovation and target audience expectations has been a common issue, with many games failing to resonate with players [6][12] - Companies are now focusing on restructuring and optimizing resources in response to underperforming titles, aiming to recover investments and improve future offerings [12][14] Consumer Insights - The success of a game is increasingly dependent on understanding consumer needs and differentiating products in a crowded market [12][14] - Many games are criticized for lacking true innovation, often relying on established formulas that do not engage players effectively [8][9] - The disconnect between marketing promises and actual gameplay experiences is leading to lower retention rates among new players [8][9]