Tencent's 94% Stake in Wangyuan Shengtang: What Does It Mean for Ash Echoes and Swords of Legends Online?

On February 2, Tencent Holdings, the Chinese gaming and social media giant acquired a controlling stake in Wangyuan Shengtang, the developer of the popular Swords of Legends (Gujian) franchise. This move has raised some questions about the future of Wangyuan's games, especially Ash Echoes and Swords of Legends Online.

Ash Echoes is a new RPG title developed by a Wangyuan unit and co-published by both Tencent and Wangyuan exclusively for the Chinese domestic market at present. The game is set in a fantasy world inspired by Chinese culture and mythology and features an immersive story, rich characters, and stunning graphics. Ash Echoes launched in China on January 12, 2024, and has already generated a lot of hype among RPG fans.

Swords of Legends Online is an MMORPG based on the Swords of Legends franchise, which has sold over six million copies and even has a TV show based on it. The game was released in China in 2017 and was later brought to the West by Gameforge in 2021. However, due to Gameforge's lack of marketing and support, the game failed to attract enough players and was shut down on June 30, 2023.

Many fans of Swords of Legends Online, disappointed by the game's closure, hope that Tencent will revive it with its resources and expertise. However, there is no official confirmation or announcement from Tencent or Wangyuan about the game's fate. Some speculate that Tencent may relaunch the game under its own platform. Others doubt that Tencent would invest in a game that has already flopped in the West.

Tencent's acquisition of Wangyuan Shengtang is part of its strategy to diversify its gaming portfolio and expand its global presence. Tencent already owns stakes in many prominent gaming studios, such as Riot Games, Epic Games, Supercell, and Activision Blizzard. By taking control of Wangyuan Shengtang, Tencent will gain access to its intellectual property, development strength, as well as marketing and distribution channels.

Meng Xianming, the founder and CEO of Wangyuan Shengtang, will remain in his role under Tencent, which has promised to give free rein to the core games development teams at the company. This means that Wangyuan will retain its creative autonomy and vision while benefiting from Tencent's support and resources. Pony Ma Huateng, Tencent’s co-founder, chairman, and chief executive, said Tencent’s strategy is to continue to expand its reach overseas, “to build the company into an international business.”

Tencent's 94% stake in Wangyuan Shengtang is a significant move for both companies and their games. It will be interesting to see how Ash Echoes and Swords of Legends Online will evolve under this new partnership, and whether they will be able to satisfy the expectations of their fans.