Shaoyu Yuan
China’s global ambitions are no longer confined to infrastructure megaprojects or its booming trade networks. The country has found an unlikely but effective tool for soft power: video games. At the heart of this strategy lies Chinese tech giant Tencent, whose dominance in the gaming world has turned digital entertainment into a powerful vehicle for projecting China’s culture and influence globally.
For decades, soft power – a country’s ability to attract and persuade others through cultural appeal rather than coercion – has been shaped by Western forces. Hollywood movies, American music, and Japanese anime have long been the main cultural exports dominating global pop culture. But China, too, is now stepping into this space with a surprising contender: its rapidly growing gaming industry.
Tencent’s Global Gaming Empire
Tencent, China’s largest tech conglomerate, has quietly established itself as a global leader in the gaming industry over the past decade. Through acquisitions and investments, the company has built a gaming empire that spans the globe. Tencent owns Riot Games, the developer behind “League of Legends,” one of the most popular e-sports titles in the world. It holds a 40 percent stake in Epic Games, creators of “Fortnite,” a cultural juggernaut with a player base exceeding 400 million worldwide.
No comments:
Post a Comment