Core Insights - The article provides an overview of the top 30 Chinese non-gaming and gaming companies in terms of overseas revenue for January 2026, highlighting trends and performance in the mobile application market [1][2][6]. Non-Gaming Companies - ByteDance and YY Group continue to lead the overseas revenue rankings, despite a slight decline in revenue [2][3]. - Ruqi Software returned to the third position, with its app "PictureThis" experiencing a revenue increase of over 52.2% due to successful holiday marketing campaigns [3][4]. - Companies like 合合信息 and iQIYI saw minor revenue growth, benefiting from holiday effects on their office tools and streaming applications [4]. - Daily Yoga's revenue increased by over 50.4% due to a successful New Year campaign focused on "Chair Yoga" [4][5]. - Several companies at the lower end of the ranking, such as Appxy and 大华科技, experienced slight revenue growth [5]. Gaming Companies - The gaming market showed increased activity in January, with top companies maintaining their positions, including 点点互动, Tencent, and 柠檬微趣 [6][8]. - 点点互动's game "Tasty Travels: Merge Game" achieved an estimated revenue of over $16 million, reinforcing its leading position [7][8]. - 悠星网络's games celebrated anniversaries, leading to significant revenue increases of 139.3% and 75.9% for its titles [8]. - 新游 "明日方舟：终末地" from 鹰角网络 made a strong return to the rankings, achieving notable revenue in its first weeks [8][9]. - 心动网络's new game "Heartopia" saw a revenue increase of over 147.9% due to effective marketing strategies [9].

Core Insights - In January 2026, 36 Chinese companies made it to the global mobile game publisher revenue TOP 100, collectively generating $2.18 billion, accounting for 37.8% of the total revenue of the global TOP 100 mobile game publishers [1] - Tencent secured the top position in global mobile game publisher revenue, with a 43% month-on-month increase driven by flagship titles like "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite" [2][5] - Tencent's "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite" dominated the Chinese App Store revenue rankings, occupying the top four positions [1][5] Tencent's Performance - Tencent's "Honor of Kings" saw a 105% month-on-month revenue surge to $220 million following the launch of a new skin [2] - "Peacekeeper Elite" experienced a 156% revenue increase, surpassing $110 million, aided by new skins and a festive update [2] - Tencent's overall revenue in January reached a peak due to the strong performance of these two titles [2] Other Notable Performers - Point Interactive's mobile game "Tasty Travels: Merge Game" achieved a 33% revenue growth in January, driven by a new event [2] - "Mobile Legends: Bang Bang" experienced a 118% revenue increase, reclaiming the top spot in the Southeast Asian mobile game sales chart [3] - Yostar's "Blue Archive" and "Arknights" saw significant revenue increases of 220% and 122%, respectively, due to anniversary events [3] New Releases and Market Trends - Eagle Horn Network's new 3D real-time strategy RPG "Arknights: End of the World" topped multiple iOS download charts upon its global launch, significantly boosting publisher revenue [3] - Heartopia, the overseas version of "Heart Town" by Xindong Network, achieved a 516% revenue increase in January, topping iOS download charts in several markets [4] - The Chinese mobile game publisher revenue TOP 100 also included companies like BeHeFun Games and GameTree Entertainment, totaling 36 publishers [4]

Core Viewpoint - The South Korean government, under President Lee Jae-myung, has shifted its stance on the gaming industry, recognizing it as a vital cultural sector rather than a substance of addiction [1][8][36]. Group 1: Government's New Policies - President Lee Jae-myung has publicly redefined gaming, stating it should not be classified alongside addictive substances like drugs and alcohol, which has previously stifled the industry [8][9]. - The government has abolished the controversial Game Rating and Administration Committee's pre-approval system, which had complicated the game approval process [9][10]. - Financial support has been allocated for the development of AI games and to assist small and medium-sized gaming companies in expanding overseas [10][11]. - The government has proposed to delay the classification of "gaming disorder" as a disease, aiming to reduce the stigma associated with gaming [11][12]. Group 2: Historical Context and Industry Challenges - For over 20 years, the South Korean gaming industry faced strict regulations, including the "Cinderella Law" and the classification of games as addictive substances [17][18]. - Despite these challenges, the gaming sector remained a significant source of foreign exchange, but recent years have seen a decline in growth and profitability [18][20]. - In 2023, the gaming industry experienced its first decline in 14 years, with over 40% of gaming companies reporting no profits and an annual operating profit decrease of nearly 60% [18][20]. Group 3: Global Trends and Competitiveness - Other countries, such as Saudi Arabia and India, are increasingly recognizing the strategic importance of the gaming industry, integrating it into national development plans [22][23]. - The European Union has also begun to support its gaming industry through legislation aimed at fostering growth [25]. - South Korea's shift in policy is seen as a necessary response to the competitive landscape, where it risks losing its status as a leading gaming nation if it continues to view gaming negatively [28][29]. Group 4: Broader Implications of Gaming - The global gaming industry is valued at approximately $170 billion, surpassing the combined revenues of the music and film industries [39]. - Gaming is not merely an entertainment sector; it plays a crucial role in cultural output and national soft power [42]. - The technological advancements in gaming have significant spillover effects, influencing various fields such as AI, graphics, and communications [46][50].

Group 1 - The Japanese mobile game industry has a unique development trajectory, originating from social games that thrived post-2007, with market size growing from 4.9 billion yen to 342.9 billion yen within five years [2] - The rise of social games led to a bubble, characterized by high costs and a surge in game failures, resulting in significant job losses and a shift towards outsourcing [3] - The first bubble burst in the social game sector was accelerated by the proliferation of smartphones, leading to a decline in social games, which were later replaced by mobile games with character collection and gacha mechanics [3] Group 2 - The introduction of smartphones allowed for more complex storytelling in games, with titles like "Chain Chronicle" and "Granblue Fantasy" setting new standards for narrative depth in mobile games [19][22] - The success of "Fate/Grand Order" (FGO) in 2015 marked a turning point, emphasizing the importance of narrative in mobile games and leading to a surge in demand for game scripts [25][37] - The influx of Chinese mobile games into the Japanese market, such as "Knives Out" and "Azur Lane," has disrupted the traditional Japanese mobile game landscape, leading to a decline in revenue for local companies [66][69] Group 3 - The Japanese mobile game industry is facing a crisis, with many companies experiencing revenue declines and struggling to adapt to changing consumer preferences [69][70] - The concept of "social game bubble burst" has been reintroduced, highlighting the industry's challenges in meeting the evolving demands of players for richer experiences and higher production values [81] - The competitive landscape is shifting, with companies needing to invest in high-quality narratives and production values to remain relevant in the face of successful foreign titles like "Genshin Impact" [75][80]

Group 1 - MiHoYo's recent crackdown on cheating in the game "Genshin Impact" highlights its commitment to maintaining a healthy gaming ecosystem and player experience, which is crucial for sustaining player engagement and willingness to spend [1] - The successful collaboration with the Shanghai police to dismantle a cheating operation demonstrates the effectiveness of MiHoYo's legal and technical measures in protecting its products [1] Group 2 - The mobile game "Goddess of Victory: Nikke" has faced issues with abnormal gift redemption, leading to an official apology and compensation to players, which may impact its market competitiveness [2] - The game's performance is critical for Tencent, as it competes with other titles like "Honkai: Star Rail" and "Blue Archive," and the company must work to regain player trust and stabilize revenue [2] Group 3 - Square Enix announced the release of "Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake" on October 30, 2025, across all platforms, with a notable release on Switch 2 [3] - The success of previous remakes by Square Enix suggests that this title could become a significant revenue source, alleviating concerns about the company's reliance on the "Final Fantasy" series [3]