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Mobile gaming

Mobile gaming
Capable of rendering console-quality graphics and with access to a library of hundreds of thousands of games from around the world, mobile gaming is taking over. US gamers alone spent more than US$2.6 billion on smartphone games and in-app downloads in 2014.
A customer prepares to check out at the register inside a 7-Eleven store in Japan. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan

Japanese firm acts to stop 7-Eleven store staff scalping anime, game merchandise

Some owners and employees have been caught setting aside merchandise before its release or buying up large quantities for resale.

Espionage

China warns popular games may provide map data to train foreign military AI

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TV shows and streaming video

‘Like a TikTok trend’: how micro dramas leave big studios in their dust

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ByteDance

ByteDance sells games studio Moonton to Saudi firm for over US$6 billion

TikTok owner sold three gaming units in 2024 – two to Tencent and one to a subsidiary of China Ruyi Holdings.

Since its launch in 2016, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has amassed more than 1.5 billion downloads. Photo: Handout
Pokemon

Video | Pokemon turns 30

Created in 1996 as a Game Boy video game, the multibillion-dollar franchise now boasts a range of anime series, merchandise and trading card products.

Pokemon

How Pokemon took over the world as the beloved franchise turns 30

On Pokemon Day 2026, we look at the history of the global multimedia phenomenon and how it captured the hearts of children and adults alike.

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Hong Kong

2016 trends from Pokemon Go to poke bowls amid viral internet nostalgia

Looking back at 2016 is viral online, but what was hot back then? We look at food, travel, health and pop culture trends from a decade ago.

People play Pokemon Go in Hong Kong on July 25, 2016, the day it was released in the city. The online game was one of the hottest trends in the city 10 years ago. Photo: Nora Tam
Artificial intelligence

Next level: why China’s game makers are quietly bankrolling generative AI

From scripts and storylines to customer service and user-generated worlds, developers are deploying LLM tools across the gaming pipeline.

Video gaming

China’s video game sales reach record amid overseas expansion, AI investment

In 2025, China is expected to surpass the US as the world’s largest gaming market, with revenue of US$53.2 billion, according to Newzoo.

Video gaming

How the Korean game company behind Lies of P found success after struggles

Neowiz co-CEO Kim Seung-chul shares how the 2023 game marked a change in the company’s strategy and its plans for future franchises.

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A still from Lies of P, the 2023 video game that changed everything for Korean studio Neowiz. The firm’s co-chief executive, Kim Seung-chul, talks about “what brings fans back” to video game titles. Photo: Neowiz
Video gaming

Forget apps and consoles, video game players are returning to websites

Web games are surging in popularity as players experiencing app fatigue seek quick, free access to fun without the high console costs.

Web-based games like Wordle are soaring in popularity as players ditch consoles and phone apps. Photo: Getty Images
Video gaming

Saudi video gaming giant Savvy eyes China’s vast market and talent

The state-owned firm is looking for opportunities beyond mature Western markets, particularly in emerging and Asian markets.

Fifa

China’s dreams of football glory may be achieved through gaming

Zhao Yitang had always dreamed of playing football for China and this summer he finally did – not in boots on a pitch, but on a smartphone.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | More than a tech hub, Northern Metropolis can be a cradle for culture

By focusing on creative industries, the development can enhance Hong Kong’s soft power push within the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Video gaming

Tencent’s hit title Delta Force prompts sharpened focus on shooting games

Tencent executives see a change in tastes among domestic gamers, which has prompted a push to invest more in shooting titles.

Since its launch in 2024, Delta Force continues to attract 30 million video game players daily. Photo: Handout
American cinema

Want to get Gen Alpha into cinemas? Why video games are the key

Seven of the top 10 entertainment franchises trending with Gen Alpha movie-goers are video game properties like Roblox and Minecraft.

India

‘Families are breaking’: India bans real-money online gaming to fight addiction

India’s online gaming industry is reeling from a ban meant to curb addiction and suicides. Critics warn it could drive gambling underground.

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Video gaming

The next big gaming power? Chinese titles packed halls at Europe’s biggest fair

Chinese studios made a record showing at Gamescom 2025, debuting Phantom Blade Zero and Black Myth: Zhong Kui to packed crowds and global fanfare, cementing their place on gaming’s biggest stage.

A poster of the global hit video game Black Myth: Wukong, inspired by the ancient Chinese tale Journey to the West. Photo: Xinhua
Tencent

Tencent’s game studio eyes global growth with Honour of Kings spin-off

TiMi Studio reaches 100 million monthly active users outside mainland China, global publishing director Huang Shuo says in an interview.

Artificial intelligence

AI is the new buzzword at China’s biggest video gaming trade show

From AI-generated characters to 3D technology, companies showcase the expanding applications of AI in video games.

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong Ani-Com 2025: heavy rain fails to deter fans on event’s last day

Crowds pack venue despite black rainstorm signal, as vendors tout last-minute offers to entice fans.

Cosplayers visit the Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong event at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on the last day. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong economy

Thousands of comic book fans brave summer heat to attend Hong Kong Ani-Com 2025

Annual anime fair, featuring 160 exhibitors and 788 booths, will run until Tuesday at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

The fair features 160 exhibitors and 788 booths and will run until Tuesday at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Photo: Nora Tam
Your Perfect Week

What to do in Hong Kong, July 20-26

Try guest chefs’ takes on a Sunday roast, sip tea-and-coffee cocktails, get some art education at Hong Kong Palace Museum and go to the city’s annual blockbuster anime and gaming fair.

Video gaming

Tencent-owned Supercell to launch titles like Clash Royale as WeChat mini games

The video game Brawl Stars is already available within WeChat, while Clash Royale will exclusively launch on the messaging app in September.

Hong Kong national security law

Hongkongers warned not to download mobile game ‘promoting secessionist agenda’

Individuals who download Reversed Front: Bonfire may be considered in possession of a seditious publication, police warn.

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‘Reversed Front: Bonfire’ was developed by a Taiwanese company, ESC. Photo: reversedfront.tw
Video gaming

How does Candy Crush use AI and what does that mean for players?

Artificial intelligence is being used behind the scenes on Candy Crush Saga to help make the mobile app more appealing to gamers old and new.

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A person plays Candy Crush Saga on a tablet. Artificial intelligence is being used to help make the app more appealing to gamers. Photo: AFP
Video gaming

China’s video gaming firms bet on overseas revenue growth amid weak home market

Overseas sales of China-developed video games in 2024 increased 13.4 per cent from a year earlier to US$18.6 billion.

United States

US professor teaches Assassin’s Creed trolls a lesson by killing with kindness

Narrative adviser Sachi Schmidt-Hori became the target of backlash by gamers who did not like the idea of a ‘woke’ Black African samurai.

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