Group 1: Game IP Business - The company has achieved a multi-dimensional layout in the game IP sector, launching several adaptations such as "Three Kingdoms 2017" [1] - The project "True Three Kingdoms Warriors World" is currently in the critical review stage and is expected to launch in the first half of 2026, aiming to become a core growth point for the business [1] - The original IP "Star Wings" has performed exceptionally well overseas, with over 80% of revenue coming from international markets since its launch in Japan [1] Group 2: New Game Operations - The company is focusing on the adaptation of "True Three Kingdoms Warriors World," with plans for multiple rounds of player testing [2] - The original IP game "Magical Bopi," an innovative pet-catching idle game, is expected to launch across all platforms in 2025 [2] - The independent game "Heroic Legend" is set to launch in 2024 and has received positive feedback, with plans for ongoing updates [2] Group 3: AI Sector Development - Since 2021, the company has been building a comprehensive AI platform covering application, model, and infrastructure layers [3] - The launch of the AI-native music social app "Give Mic" and the AI virtual podcast feature demonstrates breakthroughs in multi-modal models [3] - The company is exploring AI applications for overseas markets, aiming to enhance its technological capabilities [3] Group 4: Online Entertainment Platform Business - The company is benefiting from the recovery of the PC online game market, leveraging its high market share in offline core scenes like internet cafes and esports hotels [4] - Significant growth in mobile advertising business is attributed to cross-platform advertising needs from PC game clients [4] - The company aims to deepen its role as a "scene ecosystem builder" by integrating online and offline resources [4]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" (maintained) [7] Core Views - The company's revenue and profit growth are driven by excellent overseas performance of new games, with a significant increase in both revenue and net profit in the first half of 2025 [1] - The company achieved a revenue of 633 million yuan in 1H25, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.23%, and a net profit attributable to the parent company of 52 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1186% [1] - The successful launch of the game "Star Wings" in Japan has contributed significantly to revenue growth, with over 60% of the monthly revenue from Japan in 2025 [1][4] Revenue Summary - Game operation business revenue in 1H25 reached 92 million yuan, up 41.61% year-on-year, largely attributed to "Star Wings" [1] - IP operation business revenue in 1H25 was 40 million yuan, down 16.92% year-on-year due to declining revenue from existing products and lack of new launches [2] - Network advertising and value-added services generated 498 million yuan in revenue in 1H25, an increase of 17.52% year-on-year [2] Profitability Summary - The gross margin for Q2 2025 was 22.47%, up 2.07 percentage points quarter-on-quarter and 7.01 percentage points year-on-year, driven by rapid growth in internet and overseas gaming businesses [3] - The overall expense ratio remained stable, with a sales expense ratio of 3.79% and a management expense ratio of 3.57% in Q2 2025 [3] Product and Ecosystem Summary - The company has successfully expanded its overseas gaming business with titles like "Star Wings" and "Heroic Legend," achieving notable sales in markets like Japan and Korea [4] - The social and scene business has developed a product matrix centered around voice and AI music social products, exploring new scenarios in "AI + social" [4] Investment Recommendations - The company is supported by its gaming and social businesses, with expectations for significant profit growth in 2025 due to new game launches [5] - Revenue projections for 2025-2027 are 1.51 billion yuan, 1.71 billion yuan, and 1.87 billion yuan, with net profits of 178 million yuan, 197 million yuan, and 218 million yuan respectively [5]

Investment Rating - The report initiates coverage with a "Buy" rating for the company [13]. Core Viewpoints - The company has established a diversified business system covering platforms, games, and social interactions, with a solid foundation in the internet cafe management platform and a focus on AI and social gaming to expand its market potential [4][9]. Summary by Sections Company Overview - The company started as an internet cafe management platform and has gradually developed into a scene-based pan-entertainment platform, with a multi-faceted business system that includes platform services, gaming, and social interactions [4][9]. Platform Business - The internet cafe industry is expected to grow steadily, with the online service industry projected to increase from approximately 50 billion in 2023 to around 90 billion by 2024. The company's platform, 易乐游, holds a leading position in the market with a market share of 32.7% as of 2018 [10][66]. Gaming Business - The gaming segment is anticipated to see stable growth, with existing IP games maintaining strong performance and new titles like "真·三国无双 天下" expected to launch in 2025. The self-developed game "星之翼" has shown promising results, indicating the company's capability in game development [11][39]. Social Business - The company has a competitive edge in the social gaming sector with products like "带带电竞" and "给麦," which leverage AI to enhance user experience and create diverse monetization opportunities. The potential for overseas expansion in AI social products is also highlighted [12][39]. Financial Analysis - The company experienced a revenue decline of 14.56% in 2024, attributed to the absence of new IP games and a slight decrease in revenue from major products. However, a significant recovery was noted in Q1 2025, with a revenue growth of 24.16% [33][39]. Future Outlook - The company is expected to see a turning point in performance in 2025, driven by stable revenue from existing games and growth in social products. The forecasted net profits for 2025-2027 are 152 million, 202 million, and 245 million respectively, with corresponding EPS of 0.31, 0.41, and 0.50 [13][39].

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Accumulate" rating for the company, marking its first coverage [4][7]. Core Views - The company is focused on building a diversified entertainment ecosystem, leveraging AI to drive social growth [4]. - The company has shown a strong recovery trend in its performance, with a significant increase in revenue and net profit in the first quarter of 2025 [6]. - The company is well-positioned in the digital entertainment landscape, with a robust IP operation and a strong pipeline of new products [6][9]. Summary by Sections Company Overview - The company, Hubei Shengtian Network Technology Co., Ltd., was established in 2009 and is a leading digital entertainment platform in China, focusing on a "platform-content-service" integrated operation system [14][19]. - The company has a diverse product matrix that includes cloud gaming, esports hotels, and game operations, supported by a strong IP portfolio [20][24]. IP Operation Business - The company has a solid foundation in the game IP market, with a significant portion of revenue coming from IP products [40]. - The company has established long-term partnerships with major game manufacturers, enhancing its IP operation capabilities [45][50]. Game Development and Publishing - The company has made significant strides in self-developed and independent games, with successful titles like "Star Wings" and "True Three Kingdoms" [54][57]. - The independent game studio, Paras Games, has produced high-quality content, establishing itself as a benchmark in the industry [57]. AI Integration - The company launched its AI platform, VRACE, which integrates various AI technologies to enhance gaming and social experiences [61]. - The AI platform aims to provide intelligent companionship services, significantly improving user engagement on social platforms [61].

Core Viewpoint - The recent significant increase in the stock price of Youzu Interactive (游族网络) is noteworthy, with a rise of 84.97% from a low of 7.65 CNY to a peak of 14.15 CNY, despite the company facing operational challenges and a decline in revenue and profit [4][5]. Company Performance - In 2024, Youzu Interactive reported a revenue of 1.434 billion CNY, a decrease of 11.75% from 1.625 billion CNY in the previous year [5]. - The net profit attributable to shareholders was -386 million CNY, a staggering decline of 522.46% year-on-year [5]. - The company's operating costs increased to 911 million CNY, up 16.80% compared to the previous year, primarily due to rising advertising expenses and game distribution costs [6]. Cost and Expense Analysis - Despite the increase in operating costs, Youzu Interactive managed to reduce its sales expenses by 19.03% to 132 million CNY, management expenses by 15.90% to 257 million CNY, and financial expenses by 16.61% to 22 million CNY [7]. - Research and development (R&D) expenses saw a significant drop of 26.33%, falling from 242 million CNY to 178 million CNY, with a reduction in R&D personnel by 32.72% [7]. Market Context - The domestic gaming market achieved a record high in 2024, with actual sales revenue reaching 325.783 billion CNY, a growth of 7.53% year-on-year, and a user base of 674 million, up 0.94% [8]. - The competitive landscape is characterized by a concentration of resources among leading companies, with Tencent, NetEase, and miHoYo dominating the market [8]. Industry Trends - The issuance of new game licenses increased significantly, with 1,416 licenses granted in 2024, marking a 32% rise from the previous year [8]. - The small program gaming market is experiencing rapid growth, with a revenue increase of 99.18% to 39.836 billion CNY [8]. Other Companies' Performance - Other gaming companies like Iceberg Network and Electric Soul Network also reported varied performance, with Iceberg Network's revenue at 2.788 billion CNY, up 32.04%, while Electric Soul Network's revenue fell to 550 million CNY, down 18.71% [9][10]. - Electric Soul Network's reliance on a single game for 65.27% of its revenue highlights the risks associated with concentrated revenue streams [10].

Performance Overview - In 2024, the company achieved operating revenue of 1.136 billion, a year-on-year decline of 14.56% [1] - The net profit attributable to shareholders was -261 million, and the net profit excluding non-recurring items was -272 million [1] - In Q1 2025, the company reported operating revenue of 315 million, a year-on-year increase of 24.16% [1] - The net profit attributable to shareholders for Q1 2025 was 25.43 million, a year-on-year increase of 78.56% [1] - The net profit excluding non-recurring items for Q1 2025 was 23.99 million, a year-on-year increase of 143.78% [1] Game Releases and Performance - The game "Star Wings" received positive reviews and was launched in the domestic market in Q2 2024, with a release in Japan on November 21, 2024 [2] - "Star Wings" achieved second place on both Google Play and App Store in Japan within its first month and ranked in the top two on Steam's Japanese sales chart [2] - The game "Heroic Legend" launched on Steam in Q2 2024, gaining significant attention and ranking ninth in Steam's domestic sales chart [2] - "Heroic Legend" also performed well in overseas markets, ranking in the top seven on Steam's Korean sales chart [2] - The company plans to release a DLC version for "Heroic Legend" in 2025 and will continue to develop the game for long-term operation [2] Technological Advancements - The company is rapidly iterating its product features and has seen a continuous increase in user numbers [3] - The integration of DeepSeek technology has led to breakthroughs in multi-modal models, including emotion analysis and voice recognition [3] - The launch of the "AI Astrology" feature combines astrology culture with AI technology to enhance user engagement [3] - The company is exploring AI and social interaction scenarios, aiming to develop AI virtual companions and enhance user experience [3] Strategic Partnerships - The company has partnered with NIO and Lantu Motors to explore multi-scenario entry points for cloud gaming [4] - NIO's new smart system version Banyan 3.0.0 will feature cloud gaming support from the company's platform [4] - The collaboration with Lantu Motors aims to enhance the entertainment experience in their new electric SUV [4] Revenue Forecast - The company is expected to achieve operating revenues of 1.533 billion, 1.809 billion, and 1.990 billion for the years 2025 to 2027, respectively [4] - The net profit attributable to shareholders is projected to be 141 million, 166 million, and 192 million for the same period [4] - Corresponding price-to-earnings ratios are estimated at 37, 32, and 27 times [4]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the company [6] Core Views - The company reported a revenue of 1.136 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year decline of 14.56%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of -261 million yuan [1] - In Q1 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 315 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 24.16%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 25.43 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 78.56% [1] - The new games "Star Wings" and "Heroic Legend" have received positive feedback and are expected to expand into new markets [2] - The integration of AI applications through the "Give Mai" platform is showing promising results, enhancing user engagement and social interaction [3] - Collaborations with NIO and Lantu Motors for cloud gaming support are set to enhance the entertainment experience in vehicles [4] - Revenue projections for 2025-2027 are 1.533 billion, 1.809 billion, and 1.990 billion yuan respectively, with net profits expected to be 141 million, 166 million, and 192 million yuan [4] Financial Overview - In 2024, the company experienced a revenue decline of 14.56% compared to 2023, with a projected revenue growth of 35% in 2025 [5] - The net profit for 2024 is projected to be -261 million yuan, with a significant recovery expected in 2025 with a net profit of 141 million yuan [5] - The earnings per share (EPS) is expected to recover from -0.53 yuan in 2024 to 0.29 yuan in 2025 [5] - The company’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is projected to be 37, 32, and 27 for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively [5]