HONG KONG (April 28) (Reuters) – A new game launched this week by Genshin Impact developer Mihoyo has become the most downloaded app in China, reflecting pent-up demand as the gaming giant takes over the industry. This blockbuster debut is indicative of many more games to be released this summer in the world’s largest video game market.
MiHoYo said that as of Thursday, the Shanghai-based strategy game “Honkai: Star Rail,” in which anime characters battle space monsters, had 20 million downloads on smartphones and PCs.
The game was downloaded to more than 1.6 million smartphones in China and 5.8 million worldwide within five hours of its release on Wednesday, according to data company App Magic.
It also became the most downloaded game on Apple devices in 21 different markets, including the US. and Japan, according to another data firm, SensorTower.
“It’s already broken records, reaching #1 on the iOS game download charts in more countries than any previous game,” Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmed said on Twitter.
“Honkai: Star Rail” received a Beijing publishing license in January after authorities lifted a suspension of the game’s approval in 2021, accusing it of promoting gambling addiction among the country’s youth.
Organizers have resumed approving games for April 2022, with leading games from industry giants Tencent Holdings ( 0700.HK ) and NetEase ( 9999.HK ) now gearing up for big summer openings.
“2023 is expected to be a year of strong growth for Chinese game companies, especially those licensing blockbusters,” said Morningstar analyst Evan Su.
Tencent, the world’s largest game company, which has been a major target of the crackdown, released a new shooter in February called “Undawn,” in which the U.S. Movie star Will Smith as its ambassador. The game has earned over $20 million since its release.
It is set to test the action game Valorant in May ahead of its official release this year. Tencent will invest money to launch an eSports league in China for this game.
Honkai: Star Rail comes nearly three years after privately-owned Mihoyo released its last major game, Genshin Impact, an action game expected to generate more than $4 billion in revenue by 2022, SensorTower reports. According to it, it is one of the most sports. A profitable sport in the world.
