Tencent and NetEase were the world’s top grossing mobile app publishers in 2017

A new report published by Sensor Tower shows that Tencent and NetEase were the top grossing mobile application publishers across iOS and Google Play during 2017. Tencent’s Honor of Kings was the top grossing iOS game of 2017 with Fantasy Westward Journey from NetEase at #3. What’s even more impressive is that the data from Sensor Tower does not account for revenues generated from third party android app stores. This means that only iOS revenues in China are counted for Tencent and NetEase, yet they still occupy the top of the chart.

https://sensortower.com/blog/top-apps-and-publishers-2017

LEGO teams up with Tencent to bring products and services to China

LEGO has announced that it will partner with Tencent to jointly develop online games and social network features aimed at children in Mainland China. LEGO has seen strong growth in China and the partnership with Tencent looks to expand on that. The partnership includes developing a LEGO video zone for children on the Tencent video platform, as well as developing and operating LEGO branded licensed games, the toymaker said. In November 2016, Lego opened a factory in Jiaxing, China, which it expects to produce 70-80 percent of all LEGO products sold in Asia.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lego-china-tencent/toymaker-lego-teams-up-with-chinese-internet-giant-tencent-idUSKBN1F40U7

China continues piracy crackdown, closes 2,554 websites

Chinese authorities are continuing their crackdown on piracy websites. The crackdown, launched by the National Copyright Administration, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Public Security has examined 63,000 websites, confiscated 2.76 million pirated publications, deleted 710,000 links, closed 2,554 websites and launched 543 investigations concerning copyright infringement.

https://www.chinadailyhk.com/articles/62/245/19/1516095433030.html

Google Maps could be coming back to China

A new report from Nikkei suggests that Google Maps could be returning to Mainland China, eight years after the firm voluntarily withdrew its services from the country. The source notes that Google has developed a China specific version of the Google Maps website and an iPhone app. Navigation in the app is handled by AutoNavi, a maps service owned by Alibaba. The news comes after Google recently opened an AI Center in China and invested an undisclosed sum in Chinese live game streaming firm Chushou.

http://technode.com/2018/01/16/google-map/

JD.com invests in Vietnamese e-commerce company Tiki.vn

Chinese online retailer, JD.com, has invested an undisclosed amount in Vietnamese e-commerce firm Tiki.vn. The move makes JD.com one of Tiki’s largest shareholders alongside VNG. JD.com is taking moves to expand its presence in Southeast Asia amidst growing competition in the region from Alibaba and Amazon. “With JD’s expertise in leveraging social media for e-commerce, Tiki.vn’s partnership with VNG in social network and mobile payments is a natural fit,” Winston Cheng, president of JD.com’s international business, said in the statement.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jd-com-tiki-vn-funding/jd-com-widens-southeast-asia-presence-by-investing-in-vietnams-tiki-vn-idUSKBN1F5075