剥离了这些新闻之后，其实在核心的手游端，字节近期需要重点关注的动作也不少，重点新游《境·界 刀鸣》（《BLEACH Soul Resonance》）全球范围 内上线8天吸金超5340万元（不包含国内安卓端，下同），海外开测休闲SLG新游《ZombieWorks》引发关注。 下文中，点点出海将详细拆解上述两款产品的具体表现，尤其是字节"耗时长久"的《境·界 刀鸣》。 波折多年终公测，8天吸金5340万，《境·界 刀鸣》欲成为《死神》改编头部手游 自去年3月宣布战略定位重大调整后，字节跳动的游戏业务正式重启回归孵化状态，整体非常低调，但近一个月字节游戏似乎重新在行业中活跃了起来， 与之相关的新闻报道明显增多。 先是今年10月底，外媒technode报道称，字节计划在海外推出一个全新的游戏发行平台"GameTop"。该平台大概率为小游戏平台，类似海外的taptap或 hago、weplay，致力于为海外用户提供个性化的游戏内容，同时满足玩家的创作与社交需求；再是11月中下旬曝出，抖音端加码广告小游戏布局，近期主 推小游戏《梦幻数独》（今夏上线抖音），体验用户量已经破550万，相关话题词超1300万次播放；紧接着是上 ...

Core Viewpoint - Savvy Games Group from Saudi Arabia is in negotiations to acquire ByteDance's wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Mutong Technology, which has been a key player in the mobile gaming market [1][2]. Group 1: Company Overview - Mutong Technology, established in 2014, is one of the earliest Chinese companies to venture into mobile gaming overseas [2]. - The flagship product, "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang" (domestic version "决胜巅峰"), has maintained strong growth for nearly a decade, ranking among the top ten in revenue for Chinese mobile games overseas [2]. - The game achieved a historical revenue peak in March 2023, with global cumulative revenue surpassing $2 billion (approximately 145 billion RMB) [2]. Group 2: Acquisition Background - ByteDance acquired Mutong Technology in March 2021 for approximately $4 billion (around 289.9 billion RMB) to leverage its overseas distribution capabilities and expand into the heavy gaming market [4]. - Despite the acquisition, ByteDance's gaming business did not perform as expected, with limited success in the European and American markets [4]. - New releases from Mutong, such as "发条总动员," have not replicated the success of "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang" [4]. Group 3: Market Context - The rumors of Mutong's sale are not unfounded, as ByteDance has been undergoing significant restructuring of its gaming business [4]. - In April 2023, there were reports of plans to package Mutong with another company for an independent listing, although ByteDance denied any current plans for an IPO [4]. - Savvy Games Group, established in 2021 by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), aims to position Saudi Arabia as a hub for the gaming industry and has made substantial investments, including a $55 billion acquisition of EA [5][6]. Group 4: Strategic Implications - If the acquisition is successful, Savvy Games Group could gain valuable operational experience in Southeast Asia and South Asia from Mutong, enhancing its global gaming strategy [6].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing negotiations between Savvy Games Group and ByteDance regarding the potential acquisition of Shanghai Mutong Technology, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the deal and the performance of Mutong's gaming portfolio [1][4]. Group 1: Company Overview - Mutong Technology, established in 2014, is one of the early Chinese companies to expand mobile gaming overseas, with its flagship product, "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang," generating over $2 billion (approximately 14.5 billion RMB) in cumulative global revenue [1][4]. - ByteDance acquired Mutong Technology in March 2021 for about $4 billion (approximately 29 billion RMB) to leverage its overseas distribution capabilities and expand into the heavy gaming market [3]. Group 2: Performance and Challenges - Despite the success of "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang" in Southeast Asia, ByteDance's gaming business has not performed as expected, particularly in the European and American markets, where the game has struggled to break into the top 100 on iOS sales charts [3]. - New titles from Mutong, such as "Winding Up the Total War," have not replicated the success of "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang," indicating challenges in maintaining growth [3]. Group 3: Market Context and Strategic Moves - The rumors of Mutong's sale align with ByteDance's broader strategy, as the company underwent significant restructuring of its gaming division in November 2023, with previous reports suggesting a potential independent listing for Mutong [4]. - Savvy Games Group, founded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2021, aims to establish Saudi Arabia as a hub for esports and gaming, having made substantial investments in the global gaming industry, including a $55 billion acquisition of EA [4].

Core Viewpoint - The potential acquisition of Shanghai Mutong Technology by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group from ByteDance is currently under negotiation, with uncertain outcomes and no official comments from either party [1][3]. Group 1: Company Overview - Shanghai Mutong Technology, established in 2014, is one of the early Chinese companies to venture into mobile gaming overseas, with its flagship product, "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang," achieving over $2 billion in cumulative global revenue [1][3]. - ByteDance acquired Mutong Technology in March 2021 for approximately $4 billion, aiming to leverage its overseas distribution capabilities to expand in the heavy gaming market [3]. Group 2: Market Performance - Despite stable growth in Southeast Asia, "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang" has struggled to gain traction in the European and American markets, often ranking outside the top 100 on iOS sales charts [3]. - New releases from Mutong, such as "Winding Up the Total Movement," have not replicated the success of "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang," indicating challenges in maintaining growth [3]. Group 3: Strategic Moves - In November 2023, during a significant restructuring of its gaming business, ByteDance was rumored to be seeking to sell Mutong Technology, although the CEO stated the company would continue to operate independently [3]. - There were also rumors in April 2023 about ByteDance planning to package Mutong with another company for a potential IPO in the U.S. or Singapore, which was denied by ByteDance [3]. Group 4: Savvy Games Group - Savvy Games Group, founded in 2021 by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), aims to establish Saudi Arabia as a hub for esports and gaming, having made significant investments, including a $55 billion acquisition of EA [4]. - If the acquisition of Mutong is successful, Savvy Games Group could benefit from Mutong's operational experience in Southeast and South Asia, enhancing its global gaming strategy [4].

Core Viewpoint - ByteDance is reportedly restarting negotiations with Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group regarding the acquisition of its subsidiary, Moonton, which indicates a potential revival of a previously shelved acquisition plan [1][4]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The specifics of the acquisition have not been disclosed, and both ByteDance and the Saudi fund have not provided comments, leaving the latest valuation of Moonton uncertain [3]. - The sale of Moonton was initially considered in 2023 when ByteDance began restructuring its gaming business, with several bidders including the Saudi fund and Tencent. However, high valuation premiums during the initial acquisition led to a stalemate [4][10]. - Following the appointment of Zhang Yunfan in May 2023, ByteDance's gaming strategy shifted towards a more pragmatic approach, focusing on sustainable growth rather than chasing blockbuster hits [4][6]. Group 2: Strategic Shifts - ByteDance's gaming division has adopted a strategy that balances mature products with experimental ones, aiming for both mainstream appeal and niche markets, which has resulted in stable revenue and new growth [6][7]. - The collaboration between ByteDance's subsidiary, Xishiyuan, and Moonton has yielded successful products, such as the domestic version of "Decision Peak," showcasing the effectiveness of their partnership [7]. Group 3: Saudi Fund's Position - The Savvy Games Group, established in 2021 and fully owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), aims to create a global gaming empire by investing heavily in game development and esports [8][10]. - The Saudi fund's recent acquisition of EA for $55 billion reflects its aggressive investment strategy, and its renewed interest in Moonton may stem from a desire to fill gaps in its gaming portfolio, particularly in the MOBA genre [10][16]. - The failure of the esports Olympics project has prompted the Saudi fund to increase investments in gaming companies, recognizing the need for control over game development and distribution to support its esports ambitions [12][14].

Core Insights - ByteDance's gaming division is experiencing a significant revival, with the launch of the 3D action game "Jing·Jie Dao Ming" based on the "Death God" IP, which has already surpassed 15.55 million pre-registrations and reached the top of the iOS free games chart [1][5][10] - The company has been restructuring its gaming business for the past year and a half, focusing on a diverse range of projects across various genres, including PvE, PvP, and ARPG [1][13][24] - ByteDance is adopting a more cautious approach to game development, emphasizing long-term content production and project management, rather than rushing to create blockbuster titles [4][27] Game Development and Strategy - The gaming division has multiple projects in development, with around 30 teams working on various game types, including action, shooting, SLG, and card games [13][24] - Notable projects include "Jing·Jie Dao Ming," "Dawn of Peak" (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang), and several others from different studios under ByteDance [5][10][12] - The company is tightening its project approval standards and focusing on return on investment (ROI) metrics, reflecting a shift towards more strategic management of game development [3][26] Market Position and Challenges - ByteDance's gaming division benefits from its strong platform capabilities, which provide significant traffic and distribution advantages [25][26] - However, the platform-driven approach may conflict with the creative demands of game development, which often requires a longer-term focus and tolerance for risk [26][27] - The company is working to balance its platform logic with the need for sustained content production, aiming to cultivate its own content vitality in a competitive global market [27]

Group 1 - The gaming sector initially weakened but has shown a continuous rise, with companies like Guomai Culture, Xinghui Entertainment, Huali Technology, and Mingchen Health leading in gains, while companies like Jibite, Giant Network, and Kaiying Network are among the biggest losers [1] - The gaming ETF (159869) has seen a net inflow of 2.423 billion yuan over the past 10 trading days, indicating strong investor interest, with a total product scale of 10.612 billion yuan [1] - According to Qimai Data, the popular game rankings for September 2025 show that "Valorant: Source Action," launched in August, has risen 6 places to become the top downloaded game, while "Delta Action" and "Honor of Kings" are ranked second and third respectively [1] Group 2 - The gaming sector is experiencing multiple catalysts including AI, content, and commercialization model transformations, with a focus on the gaming ETF (159869) tracking the performance of A-share listed companies in the animation and gaming industry [2]

Core Insights - In September 2025, 32 Chinese companies made it to the global mobile game publisher revenue TOP 100, collectively earning $1.95 billion, which accounts for 36.1% of the total revenue of the global TOP 100 mobile game publishers [1] Group 1: Tencent's Performance - Tencent's tactical shooting game "Delta Force" launched a new season "Blazing Fire" on September 17, leading to a 76% month-on-month revenue increase [2] - "Delta Force" topped the iOS mobile game sales chart in China and maintained its position for several consecutive days, contributing to Tencent's top position in the Chinese mobile game publisher revenue ranking [2] - Tencent's other major titles, including "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite," also performed exceptionally well [2] Group 2: NetEase's Growth - NetEase secured the third position in the revenue ranking, driven by the strong performance of multiple mobile games [2] - The newly launched "Dream Journey Mobile Light Enjoyment" saw a 46% month-on-month revenue increase due to its lowered gameplay barriers and enhanced social features [2] - The sci-fi shooting game "Destiny: Stars" launched at the end of August experienced a threefold revenue increase in September, ranking second in the revenue growth list for Chinese mobile games going overseas [2] Group 3: Other Notable Publishers - Lemon Microfun maintained its fourth position in the revenue ranking with a 10% month-on-month revenue increase, supported by several successful titles [3] - MiHoYo's games, including "Genshin Impact" and "Honkai: Star Rail," saw a 33% month-on-month revenue increase, elevating the publisher to the fifth position [3] - "Genshin Impact" launched a new version on September 10, resulting in a 94% revenue surge, making it the top mobile game in terms of revenue growth for overseas markets [3] Group 4: Emerging Publishers - Florere Game's revenue increased by 15% month-on-month, ranking sixth in the revenue list, with a notable 250% increase compared to January 2025 [4] - Mu Tong Technology's new game "ACECRAFT" quickly gained popularity, leading to a 10% month-on-month revenue increase and elevating its ranking to 11th [4] - Lingxi Interactive's "Three Kingdoms: Strategic Edition" saw its revenue double in September due to a successful anniversary event, contributing to a 38% overall revenue increase for the publisher [4] Group 5: Additional Publishers - Other Chinese mobile game publishers in the global TOP 100 include ONEMT and Mattel163, totaling 32 companies [5] Group 6: App Store Rankings - Tencent's "Honor of Kings," "Delta Force," "Peacekeeper Elite," and "Gold Shovel" occupied the top four positions in the Chinese App Store mobile game revenue ranking [6] - "Delta Force" achieved a 78% month-on-month revenue increase, reaching a new daily revenue high [6] - MiHoYo's "Genshin Impact" experienced a 53% month-on-month revenue increase, re-entering the revenue ranking at 17th place [7]

Core Insights - The company, Mu Tong, has been actively launching new games this year, including "Magic Chess: Go Go" and "Silver and Scarlet," with a third title, "ACECRAFT," recently released, showing promising initial performance [1][3][5]. Group 1: Game Performance - "Magic Chess: Go Go" generated approximately 6 million in its first month and has a total revenue of around 21.1 million, with Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines being the top markets [1]. - "Silver and Scarlet" achieved a first-month revenue of 78.8 million, with a total estimated revenue of 140 million, primarily driven by Japan, Korea, and China's iOS market [3]. - "ACECRAFT" had a strong debut, with an iOS revenue of 13.3 million in just four days, significantly outperforming previous titles [5][8]. Group 2: Market Strategy and Testing - "ACECRAFT" underwent a lengthy 10-month testing phase, receiving positive feedback that led to a global release strategy [12]. - The game had over 800,000 pre-registrations before its launch, indicating strong market interest [8]. - The game was launched in over 170 countries, achieving significant download numbers and ranking high in various regional app stores [18][20]. Group 3: Revenue and User Engagement - In its first four days, "ACECRAFT" accumulated approximately 2.7 million downloads, with a revenue of over 13.3 million, showcasing its strong market entry [28]. - The game's revenue per download (RPD) is estimated at around 4.92 yuan, indicating effective monetization strategies [28]. - The game maintained a strong presence in the iOS free charts, ranking in the top 50 across multiple regions shortly after launch [20][24]. Group 4: Differentiation and Gameplay - "ACECRAFT" features a unique art style and gameplay mechanics that differentiate it from competitors, including a blend of bullet-hell shooting and roguelike elements [33][36]. - The game incorporates a talent tree and various upgrade systems, enhancing long-term player engagement [40]. - The marketing strategy included collaborations with popular franchises and influencers to broaden its reach [41]. Group 5: Long-term Vision and Challenges - The development team aims to establish "ACECRAFT" as a classic original IP, focusing on continuous updates and new content to retain player interest [47]. - Challenges include balancing the game's visual style with gameplay mechanics and addressing player feedback regarding difficulty and monetization strategies [45]. - The company is exploring diversification in game genres and global expansion, indicating a strategic shift in response to market dynamics [63].

Game Releases - Tencent's self-developed FPS game "Counter-Strike: Future" began its "Evolution Test" recruitment on August 25, featuring cross-platform data sharing and classic gameplay modes along with new innovative modes [1] - The fantasy multi-dimensional combat game "Double Helix" by Hero Games announced its public test date for October 28 during a live broadcast on August 26, removing the character and weapon gacha system and focusing on cosmetic purchases [3] - "Clockwork Mania" launched its global public test on August 28, combining retro American art style with bullet-hell shooting, and featuring a collaboration event with "Tom and Jerry" [5] - miHoYo's new title "Honkai: Fate Spirits" was first revealed on August 29, featuring a blend of pet collection and auto-chess gameplay, expanding the boundaries of the Honkai IP [7] Industry News - The number of game licenses issued in August reached a new high for the year, with a total of 173 games approved, including notable titles from NetEase and Bilibili [13][14] - 37 Interactive Entertainment reported a revenue of 8.486 billion yuan for the first half of 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 8.08%, while net profit increased by 10.72% [15] - The company has over 20 new games in development, with more than half being SLG titles, and is actively applying AI technology across various operational aspects [15] Company Developments - The head of NetEase's "Onmyoji" division, Jin Tao, has left to start a new venture, partnering with former NetEase Art Design Center president "Master" [17] - The newly established Guangzhou Jizi Information Technology Co., Ltd. has a registered capital of 1 million yuan, focusing on software and hardware sales, among other services [18]