Good news is on the way for gaming fans in China as it has been confirmed that Tencent has released a beta version of a "Game of Thrones" title in the country.
Bloomberg confirmed that Tencent Holdings Ltd. has won exclusive rights to the game's distribution. The beta version, developed by Yoozoo, is expected to be available for China smartphones sometime April, during the airing month of the highly popular show's final season. The test version, on the other hand, will be available for play to invited users on Thursday.
"When the eighth and last season returns in April, it will definitely cause a sensation and much discussion. By releasing the game at this time, the TV series will help attract more players," Tencent said in a statement.
The mobile game titled "Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming" will allow players to assume various roles, including that of Tyrion Lannister. The title will also offer nostalgic moments during gameplay, one of which is the Red Wedding.
2018 wasn't a good year for game creators as China closed its doors to some new and old titles. Beijing attributed the move to increased interest over violence and other content that younger audiences should not be allowed to access. However, the government started approving certain games in December. Tencent's upcoming release is one of them.
Earlier this year, some fans doubted that the plan to develop a "Game of Thrones" title will not push through. However, Yoozoo was able to sign a deal with Warner Brothers, resulting to Tencent's acquisition of the highly anticipated game.
It is unclear to what extent China will censor Tencent's new release but fans are hoping that they will get to enjoy the gameplay. Experts are also looking forward to how Tencent will hype up interest for the upcoming title.
Last year, Yoozoo announced that the upcoming "Game of Thrones" title will be a war strategy game that allows interactions between characters from the house of Westeros. Gaming fans may be up for a surprise if the game has special features or freebies.
Meanwhile, Tencent seems to have overcome previous issues as the company's third quarter report revealed that profits increased from investments made by the Shenzhen-based conglomerate.
According to The South China Morning Post, Tencent made 163 new global investments. This is a good jump from 2017's 143 investments. Chinese research firm IT Juzi, a highly cited information provider, unveiled the data.
The investments that Tencent poured funds on range from online education, property services, live-streaming platforms, and many more. Most of the deals are related to entertainment and culture.
