Tencent Corporation has revealed plans to create an esports industry in China with a turnover of 100 billion yuan ($14.6 billion) by 2022.
Tencent’s strategy includes the creation of esports leagues and associations, holding tournaments and arranging industrial parks for virtual competitions.
The first of these parks should open near the end of 2017 in the city of Wuhu in the east of China.
Tencent is betting on forecasts about the upcoming transformation of China into the largest esports market in the world. According to Tencent, by the end of this year there will be 335 million esports players in the world, 220 million of whom live in China.
Tencent’s plans include the release of thematic products in cooperation with other companies. For example, the production of a series of smartphones in the design of MOBA Honor of Kings together with Vivo.
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