ByteDance, the China-based startup behind the hugely popular social networking app TikTok, is reportedly planning to do much more in the gaming space. Bloomberg reports that ByteDance is looking to create a “full-fledged” gaming division that will create “hardcore or non-casual games.”
This new gaming venture is only in the “embryonic stage,” according to the site, though the team is said to already be 1,000 people strong. Additionally, the first two titles from ByteDance’s gaming division are scheduled for release this year, the report said.
ByteDance will reportedly work on multiple new massively multiplayer online games featuring “Chinese fantasy elements.” These games will reportedly release both in China and around the world.
Gaming analyst Daniel Ahmad said ByteDance could become a “big disruptor” in the gaming space thanks to its huge global userbase.
ByteDance has reportedly hired top talent from other studios to help lead the charge, one of whom is Perfect World executive Wang Kuiwu. These new efforts from ByteDance follow the company’s existing foray into gaming with a handful of casual games that relied on ads. The new venture is said to involve a “much bigger investment” from ByteDance, with the studio making more hardcore games.
In addition to hiring new game development talent for its offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, ByteDance is acquiring studios to help with its gaming push. Over the past year, ByteDance acquired the game developers Shanghai Mokun Digital Technology and Levelup.ai. ByteDance also hired staff from the NetEase studio Pangu Game.
Go to Bloomberg to get the full story on ByteDance’s gaming efforts.
In other news about TikTok, the company recently partnered with Fortnite for a dancing competition.