Core Insights - The "search, fight, and retreat" (搜打撤) genre has gained significant traction, with major companies like Sony, Supercell, and Tencent actively participating in this space [1][3] - Tencent is currently the leader in the domestic "search, fight, and retreat" market, with games like "Dark Zone Breakout" and "Delta Action" solidifying its position [3][6] - The gameplay mechanics of "search, fight, and retreat" present inherent contradictions, making it challenging to balance tactical execution with fast-paced action [5][6] Tencent's Dominance - Tencent's "Delta Action" achieved an average daily active user (DAU) of 20 million in July, ranking among the top five in the industry [3] - "Dark Zone Breakout" was launched in 2022, focusing on a realistic approach that creates a "high-risk, high-reward" psychological experience [7] - The company has expanded its offerings, including the recent launch of "Dark Zone Breakout: Infinite" for PC, which has maintained a top 10 position in internet café rankings [9] Market Dynamics - Despite Tencent's stronghold, other companies like NetEase are also entering the "search, fight, and retreat" arena with unique approaches, such as the "Desert Gold" mode in "Naraka: Bladepoint" [15][19] - New entrants like "No Master Star Abyss," developed by former Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime, are exploring innovative gameplay mechanics that combine cooperative and competitive elements [17][20] - The genre is evolving, with various companies experimenting with different gameplay styles and mechanics, indicating a competitive landscape that is not solely dominated by Tencent [26][27] Future Outlook - The "search, fight, and retreat" genre is characterized by its appeal to players' sense of risk and reward, creating a gambling-like experience that is distinct from traditional competitive shooting games [27] - The ongoing development of diverse gameplay experiences suggests that the future of this genre will not be monopolized by a single product but will instead cater to a variety of player preferences [26][27]

Core Viewpoint - NetEase (NTES.US) is expected to report improved performance in its upcoming earnings release, with projected revenue and adjusted EBIT growth of 12% and 29% year-over-year, respectively, reaching 28.5 billion and 10.4 billion RMB [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The anticipated game revenue for NetEase is expected to increase by 17.9% year-over-year [1] - The company's total revenue is projected to be 28.5 billion RMB, while adjusted EBIT is expected to be 10.4 billion RMB [1] Group 2: Game Performance - Key games contributing to revenue include "逆水寒" (Nirvana in Fire) and "蛋仔派对" (Egg Party), which are performing steadily, while "巅峰极速" (Peak Speed) is recovering growth [1] - New games such as "第五人格" (Identity V) and upcoming titles are expected to maintain strong performance [1] Group 3: Future Product Line - NetEase's product line for the second half of the year includes RPG game "漫威秘法狂潮" (Marvel's Secret Magic), ARPG "暗黑II重置版" (Diablo II Resurrected), and FPS game "无主星渊" (Borderlands) [1] - Approximately 21 new games have recently passed regulatory approval, which is believed to further drive company growth [1]

Core Viewpoint - The report from Credit Lyonnais indicates that NetEase's Q2 performance is expected to improve, with total revenue and adjusted EBIT projected to increase by 12% and 29% year-on-year, reaching RMB 28.5 billion and RMB 10.4 billion respectively [1] Revenue and Earnings - Total revenue is forecasted to rise by 12% year-on-year to RMB 28.5 billion [1] - Adjusted EBIT is expected to increase by 29% year-on-year to RMB 10.4 billion [1] Gaming Performance - The gaming revenue for the period is estimated to grow by 17.9% year-on-year [1] - Key games such as "Naraka: Bladepoint" and "Party Animals" have shown stable performance, while "Peak Speed" has resumed growth [1] - "Identity V" and new game titles are performing steadily [1] Future Product Line - The product lineup for the second half of the year includes RPG game "Marvel: Secret Wars," ARPG game "Diablo II: Resurrected," and FPS game "Voidstar" [1] - Approximately 21 new games have recently passed regulatory approval, which is expected to further drive company growth [1]

Core Viewpoint - The report from Credit Lyonnais indicates that NetEase (NTES.US) is expected to see improved performance in Q2, with total revenue and adjusted EBIT projected to increase by 12% and 29% year-on-year, reaching RMB 28.5 billion and RMB 10.4 billion respectively [1] Revenue and Earnings - Total revenue is forecasted to rise by 12% year-on-year to RMB 28.5 billion [1] - Adjusted EBIT is expected to increase by 29% year-on-year to RMB 10.4 billion [1] Gaming Performance - The gaming revenue is estimated to grow by 17.9% year-on-year during the period [1] - Key games such as "Nirvana in Fire" and "Egg Party" have shown stable performance, while "Peak Speed" has resumed growth [1] - "Identity V" and new games are performing steadily [1] Future Product Line - The product lineup for the second half of the year includes RPG game "Marvel Secret Wars," ARPG game "Diablo II Resurrected," and FPS game "No Man's Sky" [1] - Approximately 21 games have recently passed regulatory approval, which is expected to further drive company growth [1]

Core Viewpoint - The report from Credit Lyonnais indicates that NetEase's performance is expected to improve in the second quarter, with total revenue and adjusted EBIT projected to increase by 12% and 29% year-on-year, reaching 28.5 billion and 10.4 billion respectively [1] Revenue and Earnings - Total revenue is forecasted to rise to 28.5 billion, while adjusted EBIT is expected to reach 10.4 billion [1] - Game revenue is estimated to grow by 17.9% year-on-year during the period [1] Game Performance - The decline in mobile game revenue has slowed to 2.9% year-on-year, attributed to stable performances from titles such as "Nirvana in Fire" and "Party of Egg," as well as recovery in "Peak Speed" and steady performance from "Identity V" and new games [1] Upcoming Titles - NetEase's product lineup for the second half of the year includes RPG game "Marvel Secret Law," ARPG game "Diablo II Resurrected," and FPS game "No Man's Sky" [1] - Approximately 21 games have recently passed regulatory approval, which is expected to further drive the company's growth [1] Analyst Rating - Credit Lyonnais maintains a "Outperform" rating for NetEase with a target price of $140 [1]

Industry Dynamics - In July, a total of 134 game licenses were issued, with 127 being domestic games, indicating a stable approval rate for the year with 893 domestic online games approved so far [2] - The proportion of casual puzzle games among the approved titles saw a significant decline, dropping to 27.6% [2] - The Chinese Football Association plans to establish a national esports football team to participate in various international esports football competitions [3] Company Developments - The domestic AAA game "Mingmo: Yuanshu Zhi Yu" was globally released, but faced controversy due to issues like identical content in different editions and price discrepancies, leading to a drop in its Steam rating from below 20% to 34% after the developers issued an apology and adjusted prices [4] - The game is expected to contribute to the growth of the single-player market in China, with industry experts suggesting that the market for high-quality domestic single-player games is on the rise [4][6] - The gaming company Paper Games experienced executive changes, with Yao Runhao resigning as the legal representative of multiple companies [7] - Zhejiang Shuju Culture held a shareholder meeting to increase its board members from 5 to 7, adding an independent director and a staff representative [8] - NetEase won a bid for a big data platform project with Huatai Securities, amounting to approximately 1.43 million yuan [9] International Developments - The international version of "No Man's Sky" was launched, with the domestic version expected to be released in the fall [11] - Finnish mobile gaming giant Supercell announced an investment in AI gaming company Glass Bead Games, founded by former Alibaba executives [12][13] Esports Events - The third anniversary celebration of "League of Legends Mobile" was successfully held, with teams JT, EW, and TT.Chenxi winning their respective championships [14] - The 2025 League of Legends World Championship will return to China, scheduled from October 14 to November 9 [15]

Group 1 - The gaming sector is experiencing fluctuations, with the gaming ETF (159869) slightly declining by around 0.5%, but it has seen a net inflow of funds for 10 consecutive trading days, totaling 1.994 billion yuan [1] - In 2025, a total of 127 domestic game licenses and 7 imported game licenses will be issued, indicating a stable quantity and frequency of approvals, which is expected to boost market confidence in the gaming industry [1] - The number of game licenses issued in the first half of the year has significantly increased compared to the same period in 2024, with 884 domestic and 62 imported licenses issued, reflecting a strong growth trend in the gaming market [1] Group 2 - The gaming sector is catalyzed by multiple factors including AI, content, and commercialization model transformations, with the upcoming annual gaming event ChinaJoy presenting potential investment opportunities in the gaming ETF (159869) [2]

Core Viewpoint - The approval of domestic and imported games in China has reached a record high in June 2025, indicating a recovery in the gaming industry with a total of 158 new games approved, surpassing previous months' records [3][5]. Group 1: Game Approval Statistics - In June 2025, a total of 158 games received approval, including 147 domestic and 11 imported games [1][3]. - For the first half of 2025, 812 games were approved, the highest in five years, with 757 domestic and 55 imported games [5]. - The average monthly approval rate for games in the first half of 2025 was 135, an increase from 115 in the same period last year [5]. Group 2: Major Game Releases and Issues - Tencent received 7 game approvals in the first half of 2025, including 4 imported and 3 domestic games [5][8]. - Notable games include "Honor of Kings World," which has high expectations with over 860,000 reservations and a score of 8.1 on Taptap [6]. - "Star Resonance," another Tencent game, faced significant issues at launch, including server instability and negative reviews, leading to a score drop to 4.0 on Taptap [6]. Group 3: Competitor Activities - NetEase secured 6 game approvals, including 3 imported and 3 domestic titles, with "The Last Home of Ice and Fire" receiving mixed reviews [10][12]. - Kyeing Network emerged as a significant player, holding over 10 game approvals and signing licensing agreements for popular IPs [12][14]. - Other companies like Perfect World and 37 Interactive Entertainment are also in the process of developing multiple games, with "Eternal Ring" generating high anticipation [15]. Group 4: Market Performance - The gaming industry in China is showing signs of recovery, with sales revenue exceeding 1.4 trillion yuan in the first five months of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 16.99% [17]. - Stock prices of gaming companies have generally risen, with 21 out of 26 companies seeing increases, and some experiencing significant gains of over 80% [17][18].

Core Viewpoint - The summer gaming season of 2025 is set to be unprecedentedly competitive, with over 20 new domestic games scheduled for release in July, highlighting the industry's peak period due to increased user engagement during student vacations [2][11]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - The summer season is traditionally a golden period for the gaming industry, with significant competition expected as major players like Tencent and NetEase launch products around the same time [2][4]. - The global gaming market also experiences a peak during this period, with Chinese game developers focusing on key products for overseas markets, particularly in Asia [2][9]. Group 2: Major Releases and Strategies - Tencent's strategy includes a dual approach with the launch of "Carbon Island" on July 2, which integrates low-carbon concepts into gameplay, and "Star Resonance" on July 17, a major title in the anime genre [5][6]. - NetEase is heavily investing in PC and overseas markets, with the release of "Uncharted Star Abyss" on July 17, developed by a studio founded by Blizzard's co-founder [5][6]. - The direct competition between NetEase's "Uncharted Star Abyss" and Tencent's "Star Resonance" on the same day is anticipated to be a significant highlight of the July gaming market [6]. Group 3: Trends in Game Development - The new game lineup for July reflects two major industry trends: the continued focus on core categories by major companies and a notable recovery in the PC gaming market [9][10]. - The revival of the PC gaming market is attributed to factors such as the normalization of game licensing, the recovery of internet cafes, and the increase in cross-platform games [2][9]. - The emergence of several new PC titles indicates a shift towards differentiated product offerings, as companies seek to provide stronger gaming experiences compared to the saturated mobile gaming market [9][10]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - The competition among major gaming companies is expected to intensify as they launch multiple products, leading to increased marketing efforts and potential user acquisition challenges [8][9]. - The upcoming releases from both large and small developers aim to capture user attention through innovative gameplay, technological upgrades, and thematic breakthroughs [11].

Core Viewpoint - The gaming industry is experiencing a surge in new game releases during the summer of 2025, driven by the availability of university students and major events like ChinaJoy, which encourages companies to showcase their new titles [3][5]. Game Releases - In June, 20 new games were launched in China, with July seeing over 20 additional titles set to release, including Tencent's "Star Resonance" and NetEase's "Unowned Star Abyss" [4][6]. - Notable games include "Limitless Machine" by Xishanju and "Carbon Island" by Tencent, both released on July 2, marking the start of the summer gaming season [4]. Market Dynamics - The gaming stock market has shown volatility, with significant gains on July 8, as companies like Iceberg Network and Giant Network saw increases of over 10% and 5% respectively [3][8]. - The approval of 757 game licenses in the first half of the year, including a record 158 in June, indicates a stable trend in the gaming industry [8]. Nostalgia and Updates - Established games are also seeing updates and new versions, such as the nostalgic version of "Fantasy Westward Journey," which has attracted significant player interest, leading to server congestion [6][7]. - The strategy of updating older games helps maintain player engagement and ensures stable revenue for gaming companies [7]. Policy Support - Various local governments have introduced supportive policies for the gaming industry, focusing on promoting game exports and integrating AI technology [8]. - The trend of regular game license approvals is expected to continue, fostering a more robust gaming environment [8]. Industry Trends - The gaming industry is witnessing a diversification of genres, with companies exploring new gameplay mechanics and AI integration [9]. - The emergence of party games like "Goose Duck" is expected to intensify competition among major players like NetEase and Tencent [9].