Core Viewpoint - The company's second-quarter performance was slightly below market expectations, primarily due to a slowdown in its gaming business, which remains its core revenue driver [3][6][8]. Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q2 was 27.9 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 9.4%, but below the expected 28.4 billion RMB [6]. - Gross profit reached 18.1 billion RMB, a year-on-year growth of 12.5%, maintaining a high gross margin of 64.9% [6][14]. - Net profit was 8.6 billion RMB, up 27.25% year-on-year, but down 16.5% quarter-on-quarter, influenced by fluctuations in investment income and increased operating expenses [6][15]. - The company announced a dividend of 0.57 USD per ADS and has executed a share buyback plan worth 2 billion USD [6]. Core Business - Online gaming revenue was 22.8 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 13.7%, but a quarter-on-quarter decline of 5%, indicating a slowdown in growth momentum [6][8]. - The gaming business's gross profit was 16.01 billion RMB, slightly exceeding expectations, highlighting ongoing cost control pressures [9]. - Notable product performance included "Dream of Dreams" achieving a peak concurrent player count of over 2.93 million, showcasing the enduring appeal of long-standing IPs [10]. Non-Gaming Business - Net revenue from NetEase Cloud Music was 2 billion RMB, a slight year-on-year decline of 3.5%, reflecting structural changes in user payment habits [11]. - Youdao's performance was relatively stable, with net revenue of 1.4 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 7.2% [12]. - Revenue from innovation and other businesses fell sharply by 17.8% to 1.7 billion RMB, primarily due to declines in NetEase Yanxuan and advertising services [13]. Cash Position and Profitability - The company maintained a strong cash position with net cash of 142.1 billion RMB, an 8.1% increase from the beginning of the year [16]. - Operating cash flow was 10.9 billion RMB, although it decreased by 10% quarter-on-quarter, still indicating a healthy cash flow situation [16]. Future Outlook - The CEO emphasized the importance of exploring new player experiences and expanding self-developed IP products, with upcoming titles like "Forgotten Sea" and "Return to Tang" being critical for assessing the company's innovation and international strategy [17]. - The ongoing expansion of Blizzard games in the Chinese market, including new content for "Hearthstone" and "World of Warcraft," is expected to provide new growth opportunities [17].