Intel, Tencent & Haier Announce the TGP Box

At CES Asia, Intel, Tencent and Haier jointly announced the TGP Box, a gaming console that is designed for living room entertainment. Haier will manufacture the hardware and Intel will provide advanced computing platforms including full support for the Intel RealSense technology and “smart home innovative technology.” Tencent will provide development support for the system, including gaming content integration and full integration with TGP (Tencent Games Platform). TGP is part of Tencent’s PC game platform plus qq games platform (qqgame.qq.com). TGP is the location of client software for LOL, Crossfire, FIFA Online3, NBA 2K, and others. The TGP Box system will be based on Windows 10, according to Inside Games Asia.

Softbank Considering Selling Supercell Stake

Bloomberg reported that Softbank is considering selling part of Supercell stake and has already found a buyer in China. An insider said that this transaction might cost more than $5 billion, putting Supercell’s valuation at $6.7 billion. In October 2013, Softbank acquired 51% of Supercell’s stake for $1.5 billion. In 2015 Softbank invested another $1.2 billion to up its stake in Supercell to 73%.

China’s Mobile Games Market

Chinese government data on mobile games market: Q1 2016 iOS growth was faster than Android growth for games apps at 12.3% and 10.9%, respectively. There are 395 million mobile gamers (Niko says this figure is too low). Notable market trends are consolidation and games based on well-known IP (we agree with these trends).

Casual Connect Asia to Take Place Next Week

Niko Partners is a media partner for Casual Connect Asia, taking place this week at the Hard Rock Hotel at Sentosa Island, Singapore.

Beijing’s Funplus Invests in Singapore’s XII Braves

XII Braves (pronounced Twelve Braves), a mobile games studio in Singapore that has yet to launch its flagship game (Valiant Force), has received a multimillion-dollar investment from Funplus. Funplus, based in Beijing, publishes Dot Arena and is a leading mobile social gaming company. This is one of the largest investments into a Southeast Asian games studio.

Niko Partner’s Latest Online Games Market Report

Check out this article by VentureBeat highlighting some of the topics in our most recent research study, Chinese Online Games Market Report & Forecast – including the fact that we estimate online gaming will be worth over $20 billion by the year 2020.

Niko Partners on Twitter

Follow us on Twitter @nikochina to see these comments in real time as we publish them! Here are a few of our tweets from last week:

  • NetEase Q1 results show 104.5% increase in quarterly online gaming revenue, and 116.3% increase of total revenue, compared with Q1 2015 http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2016/05/253000
  • FUZE Console Launches in China https://nikopartners.com/fuze-console-launches-china/ …
  • Holy earnings catastrophe, Batman: HTC revenue falls 64% to $460M in Q1 via @venturebeat http://venturebeat.com/2016/05/09/holy-earnings-catastrophe-batman-htc-revenue-falls-64-in-q1/ …
  • Niko Partners is a media partner of Casual Connect Asia 2016 this week!
  • Fuze launched Android-based console in Beijing 5/10/16. Priced well at 899 RMB ($140). Many games, including Hawken. http://bit.ly/24L66rS
  • My latest article on http://Forbes.com – defining eSports and a closer look at eSports in China. https://lnkd.in/bucsWGb
  • Chinese Internet giant Baidu unveils Silicon Valley arm dedicated to self-driving cars http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/22/chinese-internet-giant-baidu-unveils-silicon-valley-arm-dedicated-to-self-driving-cars/ … via @VentureBeat
  • Online gaming in China will be worth $20.4 billion by 2020 http://venturebeat.com/2016/05/03/online-gaming-in-china-will-be-worth-20-4-billion-by-2020/ … via @VentureBeat