Tencent and Huawei's Escalating Feud: The Battle for Mobile Gaming Dominance

In a surprising turn of events, multiple video game titles from Tencent Holdings have vanished from the top lists of the app store of smartphone maker Huawei Technologies, signaling a deepening dispute between the two tech giants based in Shenzhen, China. This development has sent shockwaves through the mobile gaming industry, as the two companies navigate the complex landscape of app distribution and revenue sharing.

Tencent and Huawei's Clash: A High-Stakes Showdown in the Mobile Gaming Arena

The Disappearance of Tencent Titles from Huawei's App Store

As of Friday, almost all of Tencent's mobile games have disappeared from the top game rankings of Huawei's app store, leaving three NetEase games – Eggy Party, Identity V, and Fantasy Westward Journey – in the top positions. This shift in the app store's landscape raises questions about the underlying tensions between the two companies and the potential implications for the broader mobile gaming ecosystem.

The Tencent-Huawei Rift: A Deeper Divide Emerges

The rift between Tencent and Huawei was first laid bare a month ago when the video gaming giant pulled its hit title Dungeon & Fighter (DnF) Mobile from the Huawei store. This move came after Tencent removed DnF Mobile, a runaway hit expected to gross around 6 billion yuan (US6 million) annually, from the shelves of Android-based platforms, including those of Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo, from June 20.

Tencent's Explanation: Expiring Contracts with Android Vendors

Tencent cited the expiration of contracts with these Chinese Android smartphone vendors as the reason for the removal of DnF Mobile, less than a month after the video game's launch. This decision has further exacerbated the tensions between the two tech giants, as Tencent's games, other than DnF Mobile, are still available for download through the search function in the Huawei app store.

The Dispute's History: A Longstanding Conflict Resurfaces

The dispute between Tencent and Huawei is not a new phenomenon. The conflict first spilled into public view on January 1, 2021, when Huawei announced it had removed Tencent's mobile games from its app store. At the time, this move shocked netizens on the mainland, as Huawei then accounted for 43% of the domestic smartphone market, and many of its users played popular Tencent video games such as Honour of Kings.

The Temporary Resolution: A Fragile Truce

After the initial removal, Tencent's games reappeared on Huawei's app store, with both sides claiming that their dispute was solved "after friendly negotiations." However, neither Huawei nor Tencent has offered a clear explanation for what transpired, leaving the situation in a state of uncertainty.

The Looming Threat: Huawei's HarmonyOS and the Future of Mobile Gaming

The situation may change in the future, as Huawei's HarmonyOS is on its way to break the dominance of Western mobile operating systems in mainland China, especially after its next version, HarmonyOS Next, ends support for Android apps. After this transition, the two tech giants may have to renegotiate their terms on mobile game distribution, potentially leading to a new chapter in their ongoing battle for mobile gaming supremacy.