Tencent’s acquisition of a majority share in Polish developer Techland, known for games like Dying Light and Dead Island, has players raising concerns about the influence of mega-corporations in the industry and the potential for political conspiracy in the upcoming Dying Light 3. Some players also joke about potential storylines involving the Chinese government and the West.
The takeover and player reactions
The takeover, which sees Tencent acquire a minority stake in the game studio while allowing Techland to retain majority ownership, sparked immediate reactions on Reddit.
“This is a great day for Techland,” one user exclaims. “But what does this mean for Dying Light 3?”
“It means shit,” another user replies. “It means that if Tencent is affiliated with the CCP, then the game will have missions where you have to help the Chinese government poison the water supply and murder an entire town of people.”
“Tencent is owned, staffed, and directly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party,” another user replies. “The CCP is an oppressive, corrupt regime that abuses its own citizens and is currently in the process of engaging in a genocide of the Uyghur people.”
“Tencent is a for-profit corporation,” another user replies. “It will do what is best for Techland to maximize profits. I don’t see how that could be any different from any other corporation.”
Some users also express concerns about the issue of consolidation in the gaming industry, voicing fears about a future where only a handful of conglomerates like Microsoft, EA, Sony, Nintendo, and Tencent dominate.
“This is another big step towards the monopoly of gaming,” one user writes. “I hope it won’t be like the movie In Time, where there are only a few people left.”
“Microsoft, Sony, EA, Nintendo, and Tencent are all the same,” another user replies. “They’re like the Nine.”
“I don’t really care about this acquisition,” another user admits. “I’m just happy that it means a new Dying Light game is coming.”
“I’m Polish,” another user writes. “I’m actually really excited about this because of my heritage.”
The comment sparks a discussion about racism, with one user pointing out that opposition to Tencent is based not on general prejudice against Chinese people, but rather on opposition to the corrupt Chinese government.
“This is not about hating Chinese people or being racist,” the user writes. “It’s about opposing the CCP and supporting human rights.”
“Some of us do oppose Tencent because of its ties to the CCP,” another user replies. “Not all Chinese people are corrupt, and not all of them support the CCP.”
The comment receives a reply suggesting that the user “stop generalizing,” prompting another comment accusing the original poster of being “racist” and “stereotyping.”
The exchange becomes heated, with personal attacks and accusations being thrown around. In the midst of all the controversy, however, one user simply expresses happiness for Techland’s success.
“I’m glad for Techland,” the user writes. “This is a great opportunity for them.”
