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TencentFrom video games to instant messaging, Tencent is a Chinese tech firm that has infiltrated nearly every facet of the social media and entertainment industries—and more.
With its origins in the early days of the internet nearly three decades ago, Tencent is responsible for some of the most ubiquitous technologies in China, such as WeChat, the country’s most popular messaging and payment app, and WeBank, the first digital bank in China. It holds major investments in some of the globe’s most industry-disruptive companies (including Tesla and Snap) and is the world’s largest video game company by revenue as of this writing.
In terms of market capitalization, it’s not only China’s biggest company, but also one of the 20 largest companies in the world.Explore Tencent
What we've found
Large language models struggle to play video games, despite coding them easilyAs of 2025, given clear tasks, specific feedback, and test results to learn from, LLMs have been successful at coding simple video games that resemble pre-existing ones. However, given the variety of games, the lack of training datasets, and the need for spatial awareness, which LLMs find challenging, some of these models experience greater difficulty navigating and "winning" games. IEEE SpectrumNeuralink brain implants have enabled a paralyzed person to play video gamesAs one of twelve test subjects in Neuralink's PRIME study, Rob Greiner's implant translates his brain's activity into digital commands for the 'Battlefield 6' game. He can now also design 3D models and 3D-print objects using his thoughts. ZME ScienceAtari buried hundreds of thousands of video games in the New Mexico desertThe video game industry crashed in 1983, leaving the company with an enormous inventory. Looking to offload the excess, the company secretly had 800,000 cartridges buried in the desert in Alamogordo, New Mexico. For decades, the story was believed to be an urban legend, but documentary filmmakers pursued the story and, in 2014, unearthed the games. New Mexico MagazineHorror video games rely on terrifying sound designHorror has become a popular gaming genre, which designers say is due, in large part, to the games' soundtracks. Don Veca, the audio director for the game Dead Space, said, “Sound and music prepare the player to be scared – it’s all about the buildup, the tension, and then the release when something jumps out at you.” the GuardianThe design changed video games forever Miyamoto’s direction and Kondo’s sound showed younger generations the potential of video games, inspiring a more sophisticated form that moved far beyond the one-dimensional entertainment of the arcade era.
the GuardianOpenAI initially focused on novelty projects, like training bots to win video gamesWith an initial commitment of $1B from tech executives, OpenAI launched in 2015 to develop artificial general intelligence systems. ChatGPT's success after its 2022 launch surprised OpenAI's team as it spurred a global AI race. 1440Video games are helping to preserve cultural heritage sites, further archaeological studyWhen Carmen Sandiego swept onto the video game scene in 1985, the deluxe version of the game included historic photographs from National Geographic and music from the Smithsonian. Read this article to learn about the overlap between gaming and ancient architecture. The Art NewspaperWhy do people play farming simulation video games?This article is an anthropological dive into farming simulation video games. Humans began experimenting with agriculture and farming about 12,000 years ago, though it would be another 8,000 years before the practice became a common approach across... SAPIENSLosing the kids to video gamesAn estimated 60 million people suffer from internet gaming disorder worldwide, a category created by the World Health Organization in 2018 to help communities support individuals plagued by pathological play. As the world's most-played game of all... Maclean'sAdvance genetic research by playing these scientific video gamesComputers produce so much information that researchers can’t properly analyze all the data produced, and the overload can also lead computers to make mistakes. Researchers are increasingly turning to citizen scientists—members of the public who are willing to volunteer—to help them make sense of data when computers can’t. This article details a few of the ways you can contribute to genetics research by playing video games. DiscoverAn AI-built pixel map reimagines New York City as a video gameIsometric NYC is a zoomable pixel-art map that renders the city in game-style perspective (think SimCity), helpfully clarifying the dense geography and architecture. The makers built the project tile-by-tile using satellite data and generative AI. Zoom into building-level views or out to see all five boroughs. Cannon EyedIn 2021, someone paid $2M for an unopened 'Super Mario Bros.'The collectibles site Rally announced in 2021 that an unopened "Super Mario Bros." cartridge sold for $2M. That's the highest price ever paid for a video game. CNETThe top 10 most unbreakable Winter Olympics recordsSome athletes and teams dominate a sport or an era. This video compiles the records least likely to be surpassed (and excludes those that are impossible due to rule changes). From the Dutch sweep of four podiums in speed skating to Eric Heiden's five individual gold medals at Lake Placed in 1980, watch this list of the Games' most enduring feats. WatchMojoWatch a comprehensive history of the Super BowlThis video traces the Super Bowl's history from its origins through major games, ads, and cultural moments, offering a comprehensive overview of how the event evolved. Note that the video covers through the 2020 season. NFL ThrowbackAI systems identify patterns involving physics and time through 'world models'These realistic virtual environments, such as driving simulations seen in video games, allow these systems to "learn" properties about reality beyond what can be captured in samples of text, images, and videos. Training AI in these simulated environments can help develop "physical AI" for automated robotic systems. (Some readers may experience a paywall.) The Wall Street JournalComputex differs from E3, the now-defunct game-focused media expoUnlike E3’s consumer- and media-driven focus on video games—before the event’s cancellation in 2023—Computex centers on computer and gaming hardware, with a focus on business-to-business meetings and industry partnerships. PC Gamer‘Stadium Events’ is one of the rarest Nintendo gamesThe game, in which players compete in Olympic-style events, is notoriously boring, but it’s also incredibly rare, thanks to a branding change after the cartridge’s initial run. That’s made it one of the most sought-after video games, with buyers paying over $35K for it. ESPNMario's archnemesis hosted a children's show in the 1980s"Super Mario Bros." grew so popular in the '80s, even King Koopa, the video game's villain, had his own television show, though it's been all but erased from TV history. There's good reason for that: It was a bizarre enterprise, featuring '30s cartoons, a grumpy stand-up comedian, and cheap production. CBR'Games That Weren't' preserves lost video game historySince 1999, this large, online, nonprofit archive has saved the stories of cancelled and unreleased video games. See prototypes, developer history, and assets for various computers and consoles of all ages, including gems like Cartoon Network's "Toon Jam!" Games That Weren'tMicrosoft developed the Xbox to compete with Sony’s all-in-one entertainment hardwareThe video game console originated as a side project between four DirectX developers, from whom the console's original name, "DirectX Box," derives. These developers sought to counter Sony's PlayStation product line, which they saw as capable of capturing all entertainment markets by playing games, CDs, and DVDs. XboxBG'Harry Potter' became one of the most successful franchises in historyWhat began as a story written in cafés by an unknown author grew into a global phenomenon—spanning seven books, eight films, theme parks, and video games—reshaping modern popular culture. Harry PotterHogwarts Legacy was 2023’s bestselling video gameSet a century before the books, Hogwarts Legacy lets players explore an open-world version of the wizarding world. Released in 2023, it sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, topping global sales charts. Game RantThe game turned Mario into a pop culture icon The character has appeared in over 200 games and has had his own movies, television shows, and other kinds of entertainment. BBC'Super Mario Bros.' helped save the video game industry A 1983 crash left the industry in tatters, desperate for a hit. Nintendo’s focus on a more immersive home experience was realized in “Super Mario Bros.,” bringing the industry from the arcade to the living room. The title eventually sold over 40 million units. HISTORYThe game’s theme was the first video game composition added to the Library of CongressKoji Kondo’s “Ground Theme,” the opening music for “Super Mario Bros.” was added to the National Recording Registry in 2023. “Having this music preserved alongside so many other classic songs is such a great honor,” Kondo said. “It's actually a little bit difficult to believe.” Library of Congress'Super Mario Bros.' was released in 1985The game was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and published by Nintendo in Japan and North America in 1985. It’s seen as a landmark in the history of video games and minted the Mario character as a pop culture icon.
IGNListen to the evolution of 'Ground Theme' Koji Kondo's "Ground Theme" is perhaps the most recognizable piece of music in all video games. As the Mario franchise expanded, the song remained, albeit with different arrangements and in different styles. You can browse every version of the song below. It's a fascinating decades-long evolution of a classic composition. Cube RobertmanKoji Kondo composed the game’s iconic soundtrack with a limited palette of soundsThe game’s soundtrack and effects were limited by the Nintendo Entertainment System’s 8-bit hardware, which had significantly fewer sounds than a typical synthesizer. That didn’t stop Kondo from writing some of the most recognizable video game music in history. Twenty Thousand HertzThe game 'Counter-Strike' was developed in a dorm roomCollege student Minh Le designed the game through "modding," effectively building on the code of a preexisting game, the game "Half-Life" in his spare time. The New York TimesNew rules introduced in 2021 let college athletes profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL)The NCAA’s 2021 policy shift allowed athletes to earn money through endorsements, sponsorships, and personal branding—transforming the college sports landscape and changing the dynamic of what it means to be a student-athlete. InvestopediaX Games emerged during “extreme” marketing boom in the 1990sLaunched as the “Extreme Games” in 1995, the event tapped into a trend from the '90s of brands labeling products and events “extreme” to appeal to youth culture—mirroring marketing in soft drinks, snacks, and video games. Life of SliceExtreme Games rebranded as X Games for global appeal In 1996, ESPN shortened “Extreme Games” to “X Games” to make the name easier to translate for international broadcasts and to strengthen branding as the competition expanded to global markets. X GamesInterest in the X Games is growing fast among younger teensThe 2025 X Games Salt Lake City delivered double-digit viewership growth—up 12% across ESPN platforms from 2024—with a 328% surge among 12- to 17-year-olds. DeadlineHow the Wu-Tang Clan built a hip-hop empire“Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” is considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time, but it was just the start of a career that would eventually include dozens of solo albums, a clothing brand, and a video game. This retrospective breaks down how the Staten Island group made it happen. Grammy.com'Pac-Man' was the rare early video game aimed at both men and womenThe early arcade games were mainly aimed at boys and young men, with a focus on sports and violence. Toru Iwatani was interested in appealing to a wider audience and created "Pac-Man," released in Japan in 1980. Mr. Tele-TellThe unlikely story of how video game Minecraft was bornMarkus Persson was an indie developer inspired by games like Dwarf Fortress and Infiniminer. Early sales of the game surpassed Persson's expectations, prompting him to leave his full-time job. Going against the trend at the time, Persson released MineCraft as a paid game, and advertised it as half-off in many cases to gain adoption. WIREDUpgrade cost and compatibility issues have kept Microsoft's legacy systems aliveAs of 2025, Windows XP and Windows NT continue to power ATMs and transit systems, while Deutsche Bahn's trains use Windows 3.11 for display systems. Microsoft's continued support for these operating systems helps it maintain its dominance in the business sector. BBCTencent is the world's largest video game publisherDespite mainly being known for its 1.4 billion WeChat users, Tencent has quietly expanded its video game empire to include more than 600 investments. These include 100% ownership of Riot Games (maker of League of Legends) and 30% of Epic Games (Fortnite), two of the most popular online video games. PC GamerHow Tencent became one of the world's most valuable social network firmsWith 1.4 billion users on WeChat, Tencent passed Facebook in 2018 in terms of market capitalization ($580B as of May 2025). However, while Facebook relies almost entirely (98%) on advertising for revenue, Tencent's growth relies on diverse revenue streams from video games, e-commerce, and more. The ConversationThe hardware powering AI was originally designed for video game graphics processingGraphics processing units are specialized computer chips that can process multiple data streams in parallel, including pixel colors for a display. Such processing is required to find connections across text data and generate outputs quickly. The Wall Street JournalTencent—one of China's earliest tech giantsWhile not as well-known as Temu or Shein, Tencent began as an early internet messaging platform. Over three decades, it expanded to digital payments, video games, and more, becoming the first-ever Chinese company to surpass $500B in value. 1440Nvidia’s RTX graphics chips support ray tracing, which, the company says, can boost performance in games by 25%Ray tracing allows developers to add more realistic-looking lighting and shadows to video games, and Nvidia continues to improve the tech in newer chips. Rendering light realistically in video games requires immense computing power, and ray tracing “cheats” the process with a little guesswork. Digital TrendsNvidia pioneered the GPU industry via its origins as a video game companyFrom the mid-1990s to early 2000s, Nvidia carved out a niche as a maker of semiconductor chips specially designed for the video game industry. Nvidia broke through the competition to seal deals with TSMC and Microsoft, and popularized the term “graphics processing unit,” aka GPU. AcquiredNvidia was founded in a Denny's restaurantNvidia is one of a handful of companies valued at more than $1T. In its early days, the semiconductor company sold GPUs, or graphics processing units, that were used for video games. But in recent years, Nvidia’s chips have been used for crypto and AI. Nvidia has faced several setbacks on its journey, including when the US sanctioned chip exports to China. The Wall Street JournalThe number of cities bidding to host the Olympics has dropped in recent decadesHosting the Olympics was once an honor and a way to bring people and prestige to a city. But in 2017, only two nations bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. This video walks through how every Olympics since 1960 has run over budget, and how the era of building dozens of new venues for the Games contributed to high cost overruns and corruption. Search PartyHow the Winter Games used to lookUsing archival footage from the first Winter Olympics in 1924 to the present day, this video explores 100 years of Winter Olympic competition. Watch different eras of ski jumping, figure skating, and bobsledding. See how athletes use the facilities year-round to train. And learn how swimming facilities used for the Summer Games are transformed into curling ice for the Winter Games. IOC MediaThe modern Olympic truce originated in a real pause in ancient conflictBack in Ancient Greece, neighboring city-states were constantly at war. So when the Olympics started in 776 BCE, they needed a way to keep the peace. This video from the International Olympic Committee discusses the origins of the Olympic Truce and its reinstatement at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer. IOC MediaThe streamer no longer just offers TV and moviesAs a means of keeping existing subscribers engaged, and to add new users on the margins, the streaming service began releasing its own original video games. Many are based on existing Netflix titles and franchises. See their current offerings here. NetflixWatch how a mixed reality app transforms a space into a haunted house'Hauntify' incorporates a user's physical surroundings into the gameplay. Available via the Meta Quest's app store, the software utilizes the mixed reality device's cameras and sensors to map a user's environment, from which evil spirits that must be repelled appear to emerge suddenly. VoodooDE VRGet your hands dirty in this archaeology video game that's actually about archaeologyHow many of us have played a video game with an archaeologist protagonist whose main idea of fieldwork involves spying, back flips, and destroying the historic sites they're meant to be preserving? Exactly. Polygon
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