Tencent takes Valor game into new arenas in latest overseas foray

Players from India react as they watch an ‘Arena Of Valor’ competition in Jakarta, Indonesia. The success in new markets of Arena Of Valor, the international version of Honour Of Kings which has been one of Tencent's top grossing games for years, is crucial for its international drive as the game has not reached critical mass in the US and Europe since its launch in 2017. — Reuters

HONG KONG: China's Tencent Holdings will launch its Arena Of Valor mobile game in Russia and the Middle East on Thursday, capitalising on a global spike in online gaming as coronavirus lockdowns keep billions of people stuck at home.

Tencent's move marks the Chinese social media and gaming giant's latest effort to derive half of its games revenue from overseas. The proportion more than doubled in the fourth quarter, accounting for around 23% of its online game sales.