China's Tencent posts forecast-beating Q1 revenue on gaming growth / Photo: Jade GAO - AFP/File
-
Architect fights to save India's past, built on 'stone, tears and sweat'
-
Trump urges Zelensky replacement as diesel row rages
-
Hurricane Simon strengthens as it nears western Mexico
-
New Yorkers snap up discarded subway signs, seats at annual sale
-
'Everyone is angry': Okinawans fearful and frustrated after killing
-
Messi nets brace to win in first match after Argentina exit
-
Trump's trade wars sting US manufacturers ahead of midterms
-
Ravindra fit for New Zealand ODI series against India
-
Kenyan great Kipchoge wins first marathon in three years
-
All Blacks lose four players for second Wallabies Test
-
Barca extend perfect streak, Real Madrid survive Vinicius red
-
Spanish women return to action with 2-0 friendly win over USA
-
PSG ease to Ligue 1 win before Manchester City test
-
Bordeaux-Begles end wait for away win before Champions Cup defence
-
Real Madrid edge Villarreal, Vinicius sent off for hair pull
-
Traumatized Panamanians begin quake recovery
-
Carrick demands more 'streetwise' Man Utd after Spurs setback
-
Palestinian Mahmoud Abu Hamda wins top photography prize at Bayeux
-
10-man Tottenham ramp up pressure on Man Utd boss Carrick
-
Inter Milan dominate Parma to go top of Serie A
-
India 'cockroach' movement says thousands detained in Delhi protest
-
Barca extend perfect streak, Atletico scrape late win
-
Injury ends season for NHL Rangers star goalie Shesterkin
-
10-man Tottenham strike back to hold Man Utd
-
Ten-man Spurs rescue draw at Man Utd, Arsenal survive Leeds scare
-
Gordon nets first Barca goal as Liga leaders beat Getafe
-
Inter Milan dominate Parma to go top in Serie A
-
Trump, Zelensky clash over diesel deal as Russian strikes kill 21
-
Abbas postpones Palestinian legislative elections to September 2027
-
Thousands join pro-Palestinian marches in several European cities
-
'I don't feel fear': Fulham boss Arbeloa hits back as pressure mounts
-
Sleightholme scores hat-trick as Northampton overwhelm Bath in 18-try clash
-
Hurricane Simon strengthens to category 4 as it nears western Mexico
-
US lethal injection survivor returns to prison
-
Alonso hails Henderson 'beauties' as Chelsea star rolls back the years
-
누샤 아우벨: 연 기본급 143,056유로 — 포츠담 시민은 돈줄 취급을 받으며 부담을 떠안아야 한다
-
Noosha Aubel: roční základní plat 143 056 eur — a obyvatelé Postupimi mají sloužit jako dojné krávy
-
Renshaw ends long wait to put Australia on top in first S.Africa Test
-
Romero claims Atletico late win at Alaves
-
ヌーシャ・アウベル：年間基本給143,056ユーロ――ポツダム市民は金づるとして負担を強いられる
-
Zelensky blasts diesel deal as Russian strikes kill 16
-
Noosha Aubel: 143 056 euro rocznego wynagrodzenia zasadniczego - a mieszkańcy Poczdamu mają służyć za dojne krowy
-
Arsenal back on track after Leeds scare, five-star Chelsea run riot
-
努莎・奧貝爾：年基本薪資143,056歐元——波茨坦市民卻得充當搖錢樹埋單
-
Bayern draw at Augsburg despite conceding fastest-ever Bundesliga goal
-
Verstappen on pole as he hunts first Singapore Grand Prix win
-
French prodigy Seixas becomes youngest Giro di Lombardia winner
-
Isaias drenches southern US as weakened post-tropical cyclone
-
Verstappen on pole position as he hunts first Singapore GP win
-
Australia strike early after Renshaw's 190 against South Africa
China's Tencent posts forecast-beating Q1 revenue on gaming growth
Chinese internet giant Tencent on Wednesday reported a better-than-expected increase in first-quarter revenue, propelled by growth in gaming as the firm's strategic drive into artificial intelligence deepens.
Shenzhen-based Tencent is the operator of China's multifunctional app WeChat and a major player in the global gaming industry.
The firm also has a presence in cloud computing, entertainment and AI -- the latter of which has seen a boost in interest among Chinese tech giants following the shock release of advanced chatbot DeepSeek this year.
Tencent's revenue in the three months ended March 31 was 180.0 billion yuan ($25.0 billion), a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange showed, up 13 percent compared to the same period last year.
The figure came in slightly higher than a Bloomberg estimate of 175.7 billion yuan.
In a breakdown of sales, Tencent said that revenue from domestic games increased 24 percent year-on-year, while international games saw a 23 percent rise.
Net profits also charted a moderate increase during the first quarter, the results showed, jumping 14 percent year-on-year to reach 47.8 billion yuan.
"AI capabilities already contributed tangibly to our businesses, such as performance advertising and evergreen games," the firm said in a statement.
Tencent added that it has ramped up spending on "new AI opportunities", including integrated features within the WeChat app.
Chinese tech giants have been funnelling resources into the competitive field of AI since the release of DeepSeek's chatbot in January.
The little-known Chinese company caused a global stir because it appeared to have developed the chatbot at a fraction of the price of Western industry leaders such as the United States's OpenAI.
Tencent this year began trialling its own AI model which it says can outpace DeepSeek.
Tencent was among the tech firms caught up in a sweeping domestic crackdown that began in 2020 with officials calling off the massive, planned listing of Alibaba-linked fintech company Ant Group.
Beijing has signalled renewed friendliness toward tech firms in recent months, but broad restrictions on video game access for minors still stand.
O.Farraj--SF-PST
