US weighs Tencent’s stakes in Western gaming studios
The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering whether to allow the Chinese company Tencent to retain its shares in major Western gaming companies. This discussion is taking place ahead of Trump’s scheduled visit to China at the end of March and involves assessing potential national security risks.
Officials are evaluating if Tencent’s investments in American and Finnish gaming assets pose a threat to US security. Tencent holds a stake in Epic Games (creator of Fortnite), fully controls Los Angeles-based Riot Games (League of Legends), and acquired a controlling share of Finnish company Supercell (Clash of Clans) in 2016 for $8.6 billion. A meeting scheduled for March 3 involving several cabinet members was postponed due to scheduling conflicts.
This debate may shape future US policies concerning Chinese investments in critical sectors, particularly in technology and the gaming industry.
