ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is significantly downsizing its gaming division, marking a retreat from its ambitious challenge to gaming giants like Tencent. The move will result in the loss of hundreds of jobs within the company's main gaming unit, Nuverse.
A ByteDance spokesperson confirmed the restructuring, stating, "We regularly review our businesses and make adjustments to center on long-term strategic growth areas. Following a recent review, we've made the difficult decision to restructure our gaming business." This decision reflects ByteDance's shifting focus and scaling back of an area where it has invested heavily to compete with market leaders such as Tencent and NetEase.
Nuverse, ByteDance's primary gaming arm, will not cease operations entirely but will undergo a considerable scale-down. This includes halting work on unreleased games, as reported by Reuters and confirmed by a person with knowledge of the matter. The layoffs in Nuverse are part of a broader reassessment of ByteDance's gaming strategy.
ByteDance's foray into gaming was marked by significant investments, including the 2021 acquisition of mobile gaming studio Moonton for a reported $4 billion. Despite this high-profile purchase, the company is now considering selling Moonton, as the broader gaming market in China has struggled to reach the heights it saw during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Success in the gaming industry often hinges on producing a consistent stream of popular titles, an area where Tencent, with hits like Honor of Kings, has excelled. Despite some successful releases, ByteDance has found it challenging to translate these into lasting commercial victories.
The retreat reflects broader trends in the Chinese gaming market, which has not only faced a challenging regulatory environment but has also struggled to match the surge in demand experienced during pandemic lockdowns. Tencent, in contrast, has continued to grow, buoyed by its extensive portfolio and the resilience of segments such as online entertainment.
ByteDance's decision to downsize its gaming ambitions underscores the difficulty of breaking into a market dominated by established players. As the company refocuses on long-term strategic growth, the gaming sector's competitive landscape remains firmly controlled by the likes of Tencent and NetEase.
