Core Insights - In July, several Chinese mobile games performed exceptionally well in overseas markets, with Century Huatong's two games topping the revenue chart [1][3] - The strategy game "Kingshot" achieved a 34% month-on-month revenue increase, surpassing $200 million in total global revenue [1][3] - The success of these games is attributed to innovative gameplay and effective operational strategies [1][3] Group 1: Performance of Key Games - "Kingshot" by Century Huatong's Didi Interactive continued its strong growth, ranking second in the overseas mobile game revenue chart [1][3] - The merging game "Tasty Travels: Merge Game" saw a 52% month-on-month revenue increase, entering the revenue chart at 29th place [3] - Florere Game's "Last Z: Survival Shooter" experienced a 44% revenue increase, reaching 7th place in the revenue chart [4] Group 2: Impact of Updates and IP Collaborations - miHoYo's "Honkai: Star Rail" launched a new version, resulting in a 290% increase in overseas revenue and climbing to 4th place in the revenue chart [5][7] - Tencent's "PUBG MOBILE" saw a 27% revenue increase due to a new version featuring a Transformers collaboration, returning to 3rd place in the revenue growth chart [7] - The game "Gossip Harbor" by Lemon Microfun significantly increased its advertising efforts, leading to an 84% rise in downloads and reaching 7th place in the download chart [12] Group 3: New Game Releases - The new game "Persona 5: Phantom Night" debuted in July, entering the revenue chart at 23rd place due to strong player engagement [8] - "Silver and Scarlet," a new title by Mutong Technology, achieved 4.5 times the revenue of the previous month, marking a significant entry into the global market [8] - Other notable new games include "Staff Sword Legend" and "Douluo Dalu: Soul Hunting World," which also made their first appearances in the revenue chart [8]

Core Insights - The top six mobile game publishers remain unchanged, with Tencent, DianDian Interactive, NetEase, miHoYo, and Florere Game showing strong performance, leading to a quarter-over-quarter revenue increase for publishers [2][33] - Notable revenue growth was observed for several games, including "恋与深空" (Love and Deep Space) and "地下城与勇士：起源" (Dungeon and Fighter: Origin), contributing to the overall revenue surge for their respective publishers [2][24] Group 1: Publisher Performance - Tencent's global revenue increased by 20% in July, maintaining its position as the top mobile game publisher in China [3] - DianDian Interactive's game "Kingshot" saw a 34% revenue increase, with total global revenue surpassing $200 million [10] - NetEase's "蛋仔派对" (Egg Party) achieved a revenue increase of 100% in July, contributing to a 23% rise in the company's overall revenue [12] - miHoYo's revenue surged by 28%, driven by the success of "崩坏：星穹铁道" (Honkai: Star Rail) which saw a 325% revenue increase [16] - Florere Game's revenue grew by 24%, supported by the success of "Last Z: Survival Shooter" which saw a 44% increase [18] Group 2: Game Updates and Events - "三角洲行动" (Delta Action) experienced a 166% revenue increase following a major update and collaboration event, ranking third in the iOS market [8] - "地下城与勇士：起源" (Dungeon and Fighter: Origin) saw a 42% revenue increase after a significant content update, ranking sixth in the iOS market [8] - "恋与深空" (Love and Deep Space) achieved record revenue following a major version update, with a 33% increase in revenue [24] - New titles from publishers like 沐瞳科技 (Muto Technology) and 游卡网络 (Youka Network) also showed strong performance, with revenue increases of 32% and 110% respectively [25][27] Group 3: Market Trends - The competition among mobile game publishers remains intense, with many companies leveraging flagship products and new releases to drive revenue growth [33] - The overall revenue for the top 100 global mobile game publishers reached $19.5 billion, accounting for 34% of the total revenue in this period [2]

Core Insights - The mobile gaming market is experiencing intensified competition, particularly during the summer season, which is critical for assessing product strength. Despite a global month-on-month revenue growth of over 4%, there is a significant disparity in revenue growth between domestic and overseas markets. Many companies are increasingly focusing on overseas markets, investing more resources and efforts into new game launches abroad [1] Domestic Market Summary - In July, 10 new games were launched in the domestic market, with overall revenue surpassing $10 million. The top performer was "斗罗大陆:猎魂世界," which generated over $582,000 in its first month and topped the App Store free game chart on launch day [6][8] - "银与绯," a gothic fantasy RPG, achieved an estimated revenue of over $264,000 in its first month, marking it as one of the standout products in the recent two-dimensional game category [2][4] - Other notable games include "指间山海" and "飞长:重逢," which met revenue expectations, although they lacked significant innovation in gameplay [4][9] - The revenue data for July indicates a continued trend of revenue growth for new domestic games, with several titles achieving over $1 million in revenue [6][29] Overseas Market Summary - In July, 19 new games were launched in the overseas market, doubling the number from the previous month. The revenue from these games also showed significant growth, with several titles achieving impressive results [16][21] - "MARVEL Mystic Mayhem," developed by NetEase, capitalized on the popularity of the Marvel franchise, generating substantial revenue due to the release of new characters [18] - "Persona5: The Phantom X," published by SEGA, demonstrated the power of established IPs, earning over $19.5 million in its first month, primarily from T1 regions like the US and Japan [20] - "杖剑传说:坎斯丁之约" achieved over $12.16 million in revenue in its first month, showcasing strong performance in both domestic and overseas markets [23][25] - The trend of leveraging popular cultural symbols, such as the "American 山海经," continues to drive downloads and revenue for various products in the overseas market [21][33]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese "ACG (Anime, Comic, Game)" gaming sector is experiencing a resurgence after a period of stagnation, with several major titles receiving approval or launching, marking a new industry peak similar to previous waves in 2015 and 2020 [1][2][5] Industry Trends - The current wave of ACG games is characterized by domestic developers no longer blindly following trends but instead focusing on developing their own intellectual properties (IPs) and integrating ACG elements with familiar game types, exploring niche markets [1][11] - The market is seeing a significant influx of new and established players, leading to a competitive environment that may result in a reshuffling of market positions [4][11] Game Launches and Performance - Notable game launches include "Victory Goddess: NIKKE," which achieved $1 billion in global revenue by January 2025, and "Pretty Derby," which returned after a 622-day hiatus, generating approximately $203 million in its first 12 days [2][3] - Other successful titles include "杖剑传说," which generated over 200 million yuan in its first month, and "最终幻想14：水晶世界," which began testing in June 2025 [3][4] Market Dynamics - The ACG gaming sector has experienced three major peaks over the past decade, with the current trend being driven by a more mature understanding of the market and player preferences [5][6] - Previous failures in the sector were often due to a lack of depth in storytelling and gameplay, leading to a "winner-takes-all" scenario where only a few titles succeeded [6][10] Cultural Shifts - The rise of "Guochao" (national trend) has allowed domestic developers to resonate more with local audiences, reducing cultural barriers and enhancing emotional connections with players [12][13] - The development of game-related merchandise is gaining traction, reflecting a shift in focus towards creating a broader ecosystem around ACG titles [12][13] Future Outlook - The current trend indicates a diversification of gameplay styles, with developers exploring various genres such as ARPG, shooting, and open-world games, which may lead to new market opportunities [11][12] - There is speculation about the potential for a "GTA-style" ACG game to emerge, with titles like "异环" and "无限大" being closely watched for their market impact [14][15][16]

Core Insights - The A-share market saw collective gains on Thursday, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising by 0.37%, the Shenzhen Component Index increasing by 1.43%, and the ChiNext Index up by 1.75%. The total trading volume in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets reached 15,391.16 billion yuan [2][6] - In terms of industry performance, sectors such as defense, telecommunications, and electronics led the gains, while banking, transportation, and environmental protection lagged behind. Notable concept sectors included military equipment restructuring and optical packaging, which performed well, while housing inspection and gold concepts faced declines [2][6] - The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong fell by 0.08%, while the Hang Seng Technology Index rose by 0.56%. Internationally, all three major U.S. indices closed higher, with the Dow Jones up by 0.52%, the S&P 500 up by 0.54%, and the Nasdaq up by 0.75% [2][6] Important News - The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation announced a change in the consumption tax policy for ultra-luxury cars, lowering the tax threshold to 900,000 yuan starting July 20, 2025. New energy vehicles will also be included in this tax category [3][7] - The U.S. House of Representatives passed significant legislation regarding cryptocurrency regulation, including the "Guidance and Establishment of a National Stablecoin Innovation Act" and the broader "Clarity Act," aimed at creating a favorable regulatory framework for digital assets [3][7] Industry Analysis - In June 2025, six key mobile games were launched, with "Silver and Crimson" and "Dragon Soul Traveler" standing out in performance. The overall retail sales of consumer goods in June increased by 4.8% year-on-year, with a notable decline in the growth rate compared to the previous month [8][12] - The gaming industry is expected to maintain a stable issuance of game licenses in 2025, with a continuous release of product reserves and a stable market environment, suggesting promising performance for new games [11][12] - The retail sales data indicates a mixed performance across different categories, with home appliances, cultural office supplies, and furniture showing significant growth, while categories like beverages and cosmetics faced declines [13][15]

Core Insights - The recent rankings highlight the strong performance of the ACG (Anime, Comic, and Game) industry, with miHoYo recognized as the company creating the most wealth, followed by its significant valuation in the unicorn list [2][3] Group 1: Financial Performance - MiHoYo has been identified as the company with the highest number of wealth creators, with a valuation of 180 billion yuan, ranking sixth among China's top unicorns [2] - In June, miHoYo's "Genshin Impact" and Paper Games' "Love and Deep Space" topped the iOS sales chart, with estimated weekly revenues of approximately 774.1 million USD and 711.3 million USD respectively [3] - Paper Games' iOS monthly revenue is estimated at 245.1 million USD, showing a 37.15% month-on-month increase, while miHoYo's revenue is estimated at 185.9 million USD, driven by "Honkai: Star Rail" and "Genshin Impact" [3] Group 2: Market Trends - The success of "Genshin Impact" has established a competitive landscape in the open-world gaming sector, transforming it from a blue ocean to a red ocean [4] - Major gaming companies are actively engaging in the ACG market, with new releases and updates driving renewed interest [6] - The user base for the "pan-ACG" market is projected to reach 503 million by 2024, with market size expected to grow from nearly 300 billion yuan in 2019 to 597.7 billion yuan by 2024 [7][8] Group 3: Industry Developments - New titles such as "Silver City" and "Victory Goddess: New Hope" are being launched, with the latter achieving over 100 million downloads on its first day [6] - The "pan-ACG" market is expanding, with significant growth in related sectors such as merchandise and IP licensing, indicating a robust consumer willingness to spend [8] - The collaboration between game IPs and commercial brands has shown promising results, with events like "Ming Chao x Pizza Hut" selling out quickly [8]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese gaming market continues to show strong growth, driven by new product launches and a shift from long-term product commercialization to new product contributions [3][4]. Domestic Market - In May 2025, the actual sales revenue of the Chinese gaming market reached 28.051 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.86% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2.56%. This growth rate has slowed compared to previous months but remains robust [3]. - The mobile gaming market in May 2025 generated actual sales revenue of 21.177 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 11.96%. Key new releases have started to emerge, with several games achieving monthly revenues exceeding 10 million yuan [4]. - The client game market saw actual sales revenue of 5.819 billion yuan in May 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 1.58%. The growth was primarily driven by new and recently launched products [5]. - The upcoming summer season is expected to see a significant increase in new game launches, with over 30 titles planned, covering various genres [6]. Overseas Market - In May 2025, the actual sales revenue of China's self-developed games in overseas markets reached 1.577 billion USD, marking a year-on-year increase of 6.93% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.50% [8]. - Strategy games (SLG) remain the core category driving overseas revenue, with product structures continuously optimizing. Notably, the game "Kingshot" saw its revenue double compared to the previous month [8]. - New genres, including female-oriented and synthesis games, are emerging in the overseas market, contributing to revenue growth and diversification [8].

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is maintained as "Increase" [7][32]. Core Viewpoints - The media sector is expected to benefit from AI applications, IP monetization, and mergers and acquisitions, with a focus on multi-modal industry directions and companies with IP advantages [1][2]. - The Chinese gaming market reached a scale of 28.051 billion yuan in May 2025, showing a year-on-year growth of 9.86% and a month-on-month growth of 2.56% [3][21]. - The report highlights the emergence of new AI models and video generation technologies, indicating a shift towards dynamic content creation in the media industry [4][5]. Summary by Sections Market Overview - The media sector experienced a decline of 1.78% during the week of June 16-20, 2025, influenced by the overall market trend [11][12]. - The top five stocks in the media sector by growth during this period were Hualuo Baina (15.7%), Times Publishing (12.8%), Century Huachuang (11.7%), Ciweng Media (10.1%), and Giant Network (8.9%) [12][16]. Sub-sector Insights - Key focus areas include resource integration expectations with companies like Zhongshi Media and Guoxin Culture, AI applications with companies like Rongxin Culture and Aofei Entertainment, and gaming with companies like Shenzhou Taiyue and Kaixin Network [2][18]. - The report suggests monitoring state-owned enterprises in the media sector, such as Ciweng Media and Wuxin Media, due to increased capital advantages [2][18]. Key Events Review - The introduction of a new feature by WeChat allowing public accounts to link to WeChat stores enhances sales opportunities for merchants [20]. - The launch of the Kimi-Dev-72B open-source code model marks a significant advancement in AI software engineering capabilities [4]. Data Tracking - The gaming market's performance is tracked, with notable titles like "Kingshot" and "Genshin Impact" contributing to overseas sales growth [3][21]. - The box office for the week of June 14-20, 2025, reached approximately 302 million yuan, with "How to Train Your Dragon" leading the rankings [23].

Core Insights - ByteDance's gaming division is planning to go public, with 40 launched games and nearly 30 in development, covering various genres including card games, strategy, shooting, and ARPG [1] Game Development Overview - The gaming division has a diverse portfolio with 40 launched titles and around 30 in development, including genres like card games, strategy, shooting, and ARPG [1] - The development teams are spread across various locations, including Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, focusing on different game types [2][5] Specific Game Projects - A notable project is a girl-themed card strategy game developed by Beijing's Blue Sea studio, which may incorporate elements from Japanese flower card games [3] - Shooting games are being developed across multiple studios, with a focus on different gameplay styles, including a sci-fi survival shooter led by a former producer of "Counter-Strike" [5][7] - The ARPG "Shadow Hunter" is set for a 2025 release, with significant player engagement during beta testing [7][9] IP and Market Strategy - ByteDance is actively managing its IPs, with plans for sequels to existing games like "Crystal Core" and "Idle Girl" [14] - The company is also exploring new genres, including UGC and simulation games, with projects like "Berry Town" and a fairy-tale style life simulation game [12][13]