Influencing popular opinion comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ask any journalism professor if today’s Western journalism is even remotely similar to the days of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, when reporting the news was paramount and opining on it was someone else’s job. An American entrepreneur named Richie Norton may have said it best when he wrote, “Sadly, the news media has largely become propaganda, not journalism. Journalists tell, not sell. #hiddenagenda”
So, what does any of this have to do with gaming or esports tournaments where bettors like you can use the best sportsbooks to cash out your earnings? Well, it has quite a bit to do with you if you are an avid gamer because Chinese companies are gobbling up shares in gaming companies and buying studios all over the world, particularly in the United States and Europe.
And while a sovereign nation purchasing foreign newspapers would raise a ruckus for obvious reasons, China has always strategized for the distant future and can hypothetically begin influencing through the video games that they sell. And while that change in foreign markets will evolve at a glacial pace, as putting profits before ideology will take precedence at least for the foreseeable future, it will do so at the behest of the communist Chinese government.
China’s gaming industry is highly regulated. It prohibits the release and sale of games that feature specific political viewpoints, gambling, excessive bloodshed, nudity, and a variety of other elements in its native market. The film industry is similarly rigorous, with American films requiring adaptation before being distributed in China.
“This area — how China could use games to export its culture — is incredibly important and largely missed,” Abishur Prakash, co-founder of the Center for Innovating the Future, told CNBC.
“China has several ways it can take its ideals to the world through games, and build a new kind of global power,” said Prakash. “One way is by banning certain topics, like Taiwan or human rights, from being discussed,” he said.
China could also establish “new centers within games that help showcase China’s power,” or use games to build its financial and commercial power, he said. “The next Chinese games might only allow users to purchase items in digital Yuan,” said Prakash. “Or, the Chinese games might have Chinese platforms, like TikTok, embedded into them.”
Tencent Invests in Sumo
British video game developer, Sumo, agreed to a $1.26 billion deal with the world’s largest video game producer, Shenzhen -based Tencent. It is just another in a string of big buys by the digital behemoth from China and one that could assist Sumo if they are planning on breaking into the highly lucrative Chinese market.
“Tencent keeps buying the #1 game in every niche in North America and Europe,” tweeted tech investor, Rodolfo Rosini, a few months ago. “This is important because games have cultural influence. And controlling the present and how reality is portrayed is very powerful.”
“If Tencent were to buy a stake in every leading newspaper and TV company people would be up in arms, there would be political hearings, etc.,” he added. “Instead, they play the long game and they are buying the next generation’s media properties without any competition.”
Daniel Ahmad, a senior analyst at Niko Partners, stated “The company could also be an invaluable partner for Tencent as it looks to push into the AAA game space itself with its own projects.
“The deal would also help Sumo utilize Tencent’s expertise in regard to games development and publishing within China,” he added.
“Chinese game studios are looking to grow overseas and while organic growth is one option, acquisition allows these companies to build a presence much faster and with local talent,” said Ahmad.
Despite the spending spree by Tencent on virtually anything that captures its eye in the digital realm, their management has traditionally stepped back and allowed the target acquisition to maintain its corporate culture with little interference from their new partners. Whether or not Tencent’s laissez-faire approach continues is another topic for another day but right now they are one of the biggest tech buyers in the world with no plans for slowing down anytime soon.
Xbox Game Pass Includes Two Golden Oldies
Two new games are available to Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users, but these are not your run-of-the-mill games. Xbox Game Pass is usually updated with new Xbox One and Xbox Series X titles, however, In addition to these standard games, it was upgraded this week with two original Xbox titles that go back as far as 2002.
One of these games is the oldie-but-goodie, Blinx: The Time Sweeper, while the other is from the “Platinum Hits” series, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. These additions have the Xbox faithful buzzing despite the lack of critical acclaim from the former and limited commercial success of the latter.
