- Tencent has made significant investments in Western game studios, including Riot Games and Epic Games.
- In 2016, Tencent acquired a majority stake in Supercell for approximately $8.6 billion.
- US officials are reviewing the scale and strategic implications of Tencent’s global gaming portfolio.
stay informed
Get industry news delivered to your inbox…
Sign up today
The White House is debating whether Tencent should be allowed to retain its stake in major global video game companies as geopolitical tensions between the United States and China continue to shape technology policy.
As reported reutersSenior officials in the Donald Trump administration have held internal discussions about whether Tencent’s investments in Western game studios could raise national security concerns.
The discussions are taking place ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China in April.
Government officials are reportedly assessing the scale and strategic implications of Tencent’s stake in the games sector, particularly its investments in companies based in the United States and Europe.
Ownership in major studios
Tencent has made several investments in studios around the world. It owns League of Legends developer Riot Games and holds a minority stake in Fortnite maker Epic Games.
The Chinese group acquired a majority stake in Finnish developer Supercell in 2016 for about $8.6 billion. Tencent is also reportedly in talks to acquire a small stake in Hungry Studios, the developer of mobile puzzle hit Block Blast.
The cabinet-level meeting scheduled to review the issue was reportedly postponed due to a scheduling conflict.