Core Viewpoint - The tourism industry is experiencing a trend where aging Hong Kong actors are taking on roles as interactive characters in various scenic spots, reflecting a shift in the entertainment landscape and the economic realities faced by these artists [1][20][48] Group 1: Industry Trends - Scenic spots are increasingly incorporating live performances and interactive experiences, with actors portraying iconic characters from popular culture [1][3] - The trend of older Hong Kong actors performing in scenic areas highlights a nostalgic connection for fans and a new form of employment for these artists [19][48] Group 2: Actor Experiences - Many actors, such as Ma Jingtao and Luo Jiaying, are revisiting their classic roles in scenic spots, showcasing their dedication despite the physical demands of the performances [5][9][19] - The phenomenon of actors working in scenic areas is seen as a return to their roots, where acting is viewed as a means of livelihood rather than just a glamorous profession [20][48] Group 3: Historical Context - The article discusses the historical context of Hong Kong's film industry, where many actors emerged from humble beginnings and faced economic challenges [20][29] - The efficiency and high-pressure environment of the past Hong Kong film industry shaped the work ethic of these actors, which continues to influence their current roles [44][46] Group 4: Cultural Reflection - The current trend of actors performing in scenic spots serves as a reflection of the changing dynamics in the entertainment industry, where traditional roles are evolving due to economic pressures [48] - The nostalgic performances resonate with audiences, evoking memories of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema while adapting to contemporary realities [19][48]

Core Insights - NetEase reported a net revenue of 28.4 billion yuan for Q3 2025, representing an 8.2% year-on-year growth, with a non-GAAP net profit of 9.5 billion yuan and R&D investment of 4.5 billion yuan, indicating a R&D intensity of 16% [1] - The gaming segment, particularly the classic IP "Fantasy Westward Journey," was a major driver of revenue growth, achieving record high concurrent users and mobile monthly active users [1] - The partnership with Blizzard has resumed, with several titles returning to the market, including "World of Warcraft" and "Diablo IV," enhancing NetEase's portfolio [2] Revenue and Growth - The gaming and related value-added services generated a net income of 23.3 billion yuan in Q3 [1] - Long-standing games like "Dahua Westward Journey," "Onmyoji," and "Identity V" maintained strong growth due to new version activities [1] - Internationally, NetEase's games performed well, with "Destiny: Stars" topping the iOS download charts in the US and Canada, and "Nirvana in Fire" mobile achieving high rankings in Japan and Malaysia [1] AI and Innovation - NetEase disclosed advancements in AI technology applications across the gaming production process, enhancing efficiency significantly [2] - The company has established over 1,000 new production pipelines, improving scene design efficiency by 70% and animation production efficiency by 30% [2] - AI code generation tools have increased development efficiency by 50%, with code quality reaching expert-level standards [2] Leadership Perspective - The CEO of NetEase emphasized the company's robust operations, reflecting healthy growth in the domestic market and expanding global influence, driven by innovative capabilities and quality gaming experiences [3]

Core Viewpoint - The gaming industry is witnessing a trend where mobile game manufacturers are withdrawing from channel servers due to the criticized high revenue-sharing model imposed by Android channels, particularly OPPO [1]. Group 1: Industry Trends - Since October, several popular mobile games from NetEase have withdrawn from OPPO channel servers, including titles like "Fantasy Westward Journey," "Sky: Children of the Light," and "Big Talk Westward Journey" [1]. - Players are required to migrate their accounts and assets within a limited timeframe to continue playing on NetEase's official servers [1]. Group 2: Company Actions - The withdrawal from channel servers is part of a long-standing conflict within the industry regarding channel partnerships and revenue sharing [1]. - In 2021, NetEase's founder, Ding Lei, publicly criticized the high revenue-sharing model of Android channels during a financial report conference call [1].

Core Viewpoint - The gaming industry is witnessing a significant shift as multiple game developers, including NetEase, are withdrawing their games from Android channel servers, rejecting the high revenue share model imposed by these platforms [1] Group 1: Industry Trends - Since October, several popular NetEase mobile games have exited the OPPO channel, with players required to migrate their accounts to continue playing on official servers [1] - The trend of "unbinding" from channel servers has been ongoing, with classic titles like "Dream of the Red Chamber" and "Light Encounter" also terminating their partnerships with OPPO [1] Group 2: Revenue Share Dispute - The high revenue share model for Android channels, which can reach up to 50%, has been publicly criticized by industry leaders, including NetEase's founder, who argues that this is detrimental to the industry ecosystem [1] - The shift away from traditional channel servers is partly due to a significant decline in natural traffic from mobile app stores, prompting game developers to explore alternative platforms like Douyin, Bilibili, and TapTap for customer acquisition [1]

Core Viewpoint - The recent trend of multiple NetEase games ceasing operations on OPPO's platform reflects a broader shift in the gaming industry, driven by high channel fees and changing market dynamics [2][3][4]. Group 1: Game Cessation on OPPO - Several NetEase games, including "逆水寒" (Nirvana in Fire), have stopped operations on OPPO's platform due to "operational strategy adjustments" by NetEase [2][3]. - This trend is not new; multiple titles have previously announced their exit from OPPO, including "阴阳师：妖怪屋" (Onmyoji: Yokai House) and "梦幻西游" (Fantasy Westward Journey) [3][4]. - Analysts suggest that more prominent titles from NetEase may also follow suit, indicating a significant shift in the gaming landscape [3][4]. Group 2: Industry Dynamics - The gaming industry is witnessing a decline in the relevance of Android channels, with companies increasingly opting to withdraw from these platforms due to high revenue-sharing demands [4][5]. - The "hardcore alliance" formed by major players like Tencent has also contributed to this shift, as it established a 50/50 revenue-sharing model that is now being challenged [4][5]. - The contribution of channels to user acquisition is diminishing, while the revenue-sharing ratios remain high, leading to increased tension between game developers and platform providers [5][6]. Group 3: Strategic Shifts - Companies like NetEase and Tencent are confident in their games' appeal, believing that withdrawing from channel servers will not significantly impact user retention and may even enhance user migration to official servers [6]. - The industry is moving towards a model where high-quality games attract users directly, reducing reliance on traditional channel distribution methods [5][6].

Core Viewpoint - The era of channel-based revenue collection is coming to an end, as major game developers like NetEase are increasingly withdrawing their games from OPPO's channel services due to operational strategy adjustments and high revenue-sharing costs [1][4][5]. Group 1: Game Industry Trends - Multiple NetEase games have announced the cessation of their OPPO channel services, including popular titles like "Onmyoji: Yokai House" and "Reverse Water Cold," indicating a broader trend in the gaming industry [1][3]. - Analysts suggest that the withdrawal from channel services is driven by the rising costs associated with Android channels, which have become unsustainable for game developers [3][4]. - The gaming industry is witnessing a shift where developers are moving away from reliance on app store channels for user acquisition, as the contribution of these channels to new user growth diminishes while revenue-sharing ratios remain high [4][5]. Group 2: Developer Strategies - Game developers, including NetEase and Tencent, are confident in their games' appeal and are willing to withdraw from channel services, believing it will not significantly impact user retention [5]. - The trend of high-quality games attracting users through direct downloads rather than through channels is becoming more prevalent, allowing developers to bypass traditional revenue-sharing models [5]. - The "hardcore alliance" formed by major companies like Tencent has led to significant changes in how games are distributed on Android platforms, with developers seeking more favorable terms [4].

Group 1: Game Releases and Updates - "Diablo II: Resurrected" opened pre-orders on August 12, with three versions priced at 168 yuan, 288 yuan, and 458 yuan, and technical testing starting on August 27 [1] - "Whispers from the Star," an AI interactive game, was released on August 15 on Steam, priced at 33.99 yuan, with an 80% discount available for the first two weeks [2] - "Destiny: Stars" began a limited paid closed test on August 15, featuring a sci-fi RPG setting and customizable characters [4] - "Path of Exile: Ascendancy" will hold an offline trial event in Shenzhen on August 17, allowing players to explore new gameplay features [6] - The independent game "Exorcism Agency" launched on Steam, with a promotional price of 43.2 yuan for the first week [8] - The first promotional video for the single-player ARPG "Ancient Sword" was released on August 16, generating over 7.4 million views on Bilibili within a day [9] Group 2: Industry Events and Financial Reports - The KPL finals for "Honor of Kings" will take place at the Bird's Nest on November 8, expecting over 50,000 attendees [12] - The mobile game "World Flipper" officially ceased operations on August 14, with compensation options for players [14] - The 2025 Dahuaxiyou Carnival will be held in Tianjin from August 16 to 17, featuring local cultural experiences and game-related activities [16] - Tencent reported Q2 2025 revenue of 184.5 billion yuan, a 15% year-on-year increase, with gaming revenue at 59.2 billion yuan, up 22% [18] - NetEase announced Q2 2025 revenue of 27.9 billion yuan, a 9.4% increase, with gaming revenue at 22.8 billion yuan, up 13.7% [21]

Core Insights - China has become a major player in the global gaming market, with its gaming footprint expanding worldwide, as highlighted by the success of games like "荒野行动" in various international locations [2][3] - The past decade has been a golden era for mobile gaming in China, with NetEase achieving significant breakthroughs across multiple game genres, including MMORPGs and other categories like racing and sports [2] - NetEase's success in diversifying its game offerings is attributed to its robust industrial foundation, enabling large-scale and efficient development of high-quality products, which is essential for global expansion [2][3] Industry Trends - The collaboration with Blizzard on "Diablo Immortal" has underscored the need for a more localized strategy to penetrate mainstream markets [3] - The gaming industry in China has seen a 60-fold increase in NetEase's gaming revenue over the past 20 years, indicating substantial growth and the ability to support AAA game development [3] - Upcoming high-quality products such as "燕云十六声," "遗忘之海," and "无限大" are set to be launched in overseas markets, marking a new push for global market presence [4]

Group 1: Core Insights - Zhu Xiaohu believes that large models will dominate 90% of AI agents, expressing strong optimism about the AI sector despite existing bubbles in the embodied intelligence space [2] - Zhu's investment firm, Jingshan Capital, has invested in various AI-related startups, including Robopoet, Aha Lab, LiblibAI, and FancyTech, indicating a strategic focus on AI innovation [2] - The current AI agent entrepreneurship is likened to the early days of personal website creators in the internet era, suggesting that today's AI entrepreneurs can learn from those historical examples [2] Group 2: Characteristics of Early Internet Entrepreneurs - Successful early internet entrepreneurs often started by addressing fundamental user needs such as information access, communication, and navigation, which helped build user loyalty [3][9] - The early personal website creators were characterized by a practical approach to technology, focusing on real-world problem-solving and grassroots promotion methods [3][9] - These entrepreneurs capitalized on the rapid growth of internet users in China during the late 1990s to early 2000s, a period marked by an undefined competitive landscape [3][9] Group 3: Notable Examples of Early Internet Success - Netease, founded by Ding Lei in 1997, evolved from providing personal homepage services to becoming a major internet giant, successfully listing on NASDAQ [6][7] - Tencent, established by Ma Huateng and a small team in 1998, initially developed OICQ (later QQ) and expanded into a vast ecosystem including social media, gaming, and payment services [7][9] - Hao123, created by Li Xingping, gained massive traffic by meeting the needs of novice internet users and was acquired by Baidu for a significant sum, exemplifying the potential for personal websites to achieve substantial commercial success [8][9]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of game operation in the current era of stagnant growth in the gaming industry, highlighting that effective player management and engagement are crucial for retaining users and extending the lifecycle of games [8][16][54]. Group 1: Game Operation Challenges - The gaming industry is transitioning into a phase where retaining existing users is more critical than acquiring new ones, as evidenced by a mere 0.94% growth in China's gaming user base in 2024 [15][16]. - The operational strategies of game companies must adapt to the new reality of stagnant user growth, necessitating a focus on player retention and satisfaction [16][54]. - A significant operational incident in the game "绝地潜兵2" illustrates how poor management can lead to player dissatisfaction, despite initial successes [5][7]. Group 2: Player Engagement Strategies - Effective player operation involves understanding user behavior and proactively addressing potential churn risks, with companies employing data-driven strategies to monitor player engagement [27][30]. - Companies are increasingly using personalized communication and incentives to keep players engaged, such as sending tailored messages or rewards to those showing signs of disengagement [28][30]. - The concept of "超预期服务" (exceeding expectations) is highlighted, where companies go beyond standard service to create emotional connections with players, thereby enhancing loyalty [42][45]. Group 3: Historical Context and Evolution - The evolution of game operation practices over the past two decades reflects a shift from basic customer service to sophisticated user lifecycle management, driven by technological advancements and market competition [46][50]. - The rising costs of acquiring new players have made it imperative for companies to invest in retaining existing users, as the cost of acquiring a light user has increased to 35-40 yuan by 2024 [53][54]. - Historical insights reveal that early game companies did not prioritize extensive user engagement, but the current landscape demands a more nuanced approach to player relationships [56][58].