Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" outlook for the gaming industry [5] Core Insights - The application of AI in the gaming industry is transitioning from B2B to B2C, with expectations for sustained capacity and traffic growth for evergreen games on the B2B side, while B2C games with high daily active users (DAU) are expected to see significant increases in both content and DAU through user co-creation driven by natural language AI game engines [3][12] - The report highlights the importance of companies with advantages in gaming channels and large DAU products, such as Tencent Holdings, Xindong Company, Century Huatong, Giant Network, and NetEase, as well as those with key project reserves like 37 Interactive Entertainment and Perfect World [3][12] Summary by Sections 1. AIGC and Policy Resonance Driving High Growth in Gaming Revenue - In 2025, China's gaming industry sales revenue is projected to reach 350.8 billion, with an 8% year-on-year growth, significantly outperforming the retail sector's 3.7% growth [15] - The AI-driven evergreen games are extending their lifecycle, with major titles like "Honor of Kings" and "Crossfire" achieving historical highs during the Spring Festival [15] 2. Trends in the Gaming Industry for 2026 - AI game editors are beginning to deliver results, with a long-term positive outlook for platform-based companies [29] - A price war is expected to restart in 2026, with low ARPU games showing stronger resilience against macroeconomic headwinds [38] - The revival of PC games is deepening, with an increasing proportion of cross-platform products [45] 3. Investment Recommendations - Companies with advantages in channels and large DAU products are highlighted, including Tencent Holdings, which is expected to see significant growth from its AI engine-driven games [60][61] - Other companies to watch include Xindong Company, Giant Network, and Kyeing Network, each with promising projects and growth potential [60][61]

Core Viewpoint - Zhejiang Century Huatong Group Co., Ltd. (stock code: 002602) has announced a profit forecast for 2025, expecting a net profit attributable to shareholders between 5.55 billion and 6.98 billion yuan, representing a year-on-year growth of 357.47% to 475.34% [1][3] Group 1: Legal Issues and Investor Claims - The company is facing legal actions from investors due to alleged false statements regarding its financial reports, with a lawyer indicating that a new batch of claims has been submitted to the court [4] - The China Securities Regulatory Commission has identified several violations by Century Huatong, including false records related to goodwill in annual reports from 2018 to 2022, leading to inflated profits [5][6] - Investors who purchased Century Huatong shares between April 27, 2019, and July 24, 2023, and held them until the market close on July 24, 2023, may be eligible for compensation, with the final amount to be determined by the court [6] Group 2: Financial Misstatements - The company failed to conduct goodwill impairment tests as required, resulting in an underreporting of impairment provisions by 62.36 million yuan in 2018, which inflated profits by the same amount, accounting for 5.94% of that year's total profit [5] - From 2019 to 2022, the company overreported goodwill by 122.07 million yuan and did not disclose certain segments in accordance with accounting standards [5] - The company also allegedly fabricated software copyright transfer transactions or prematurely recognized revenue, leading to false records in its annual reports for 2020 and 2021 [5]

智通财经APP获悉，东方证券发布研报称，谷歌DeepMind开放世界模型Genie3的实验性研究原 型"Project Genie"，允许用户创建、编辑并探索虚拟世界。当前无需过度担忧海外Genie3等通用世界模 型，游戏商用潜力极低，即使是未来对于时长支持增长，Genie3判断可能仅能支持有限的剧情向游戏， 而无法很好支持无限时长延申的大型多人在线游戏。AI游戏编辑器开始兑现增长，拥有大DAU平台的 企业，尤其是能与自研AI引擎相结合的企业，有望获得未来AIGC游戏平台的入场券。 东方证券主要观点如下： 事项：北京时间2026年1月30日凌晨，谷歌DeepMind开放了世界模型Genie3的实验性研究原型"Project Genie"，允许用户创建、编辑并探索虚拟世界。同时在1月30日晚，心动公司、TapTap平台创始人黄一 孟在各大平台同步开启直播，正式官宣一款新产品"Taptap制造"。 国内AI游戏编辑器的技术路径已具备落地商用条件 以心动、腾讯为代表的国内厂商，其技术实现路径核心在于拆解游戏生产环节、AI模拟程序员的部分 生产工作，通过将AI输出的资产封装至通用硬编物理引擎，实现AI3D引擎能力与传 ...

Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on the media and internet industry, particularly highlighting the growth potential driven by AI applications and content quality [1]. Core Insights - The media and internet industry index rose by 17.94% in January 2026, outperforming the Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 index, which increased by 1.65% [6][8]. - The film industry experienced a significant decline in box office revenue, with January 2026 box office at 1.965 billion yuan, down 69.15% year-on-year and 47.08% month-on-month [16][18]. - The gaming industry saw record-high user revenue, with actual sales revenue reaching 350.789 billion yuan in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 7.68% [30][34]. - The advertising market grew by 5.4% year-on-year in 2025, with notable increases in sectors such as telecommunications and personal goods [16]. - AI applications are rapidly advancing, with companies like Zhihui and Minimax listing in Hong Kong, indicating a strong market interest in AI commercialization [1][4]. Market Dynamics - The media industry index showed a strong performance in January 2026, with all sub-sectors experiencing growth, particularly advertising marketing, which rose by 35.73% [7][8]. - The film industry is expected to see a rebound in February 2026 due to the release of new films during the Spring Festival [25][29]. - The gaming market continues to expand, with a user base of 683 million, marking a historical high [30][34]. Sub-industry Data Tracking Film Industry - January 2026 saw a total of 41 films released, with a box office champion being "Zootopia" at 423 million yuan, accounting for 21.5% of the total box office [16][26]. - The average ticket price in January 2026 was 38.84 yuan, down 17.45% year-on-year [18]. Gaming Industry - The domestic mobile gaming market generated 257.076 billion yuan in revenue in 2025, a 7.92% increase year-on-year [30][34]. - The number of approved domestic game licenses increased significantly, with 177 games approved in January 2026, indicating a stable supply for the market [42][44]. Advertising Industry - The advertising market's total expenditure increased by 5.4% in 2025, with significant growth in sectors like telecommunications and IT products [16].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for several companies in the media sector, including Giant Network, Perfect World, and Kuaishou, among others [5][36]. Core Insights - The report highlights a positive outlook on AI applications and cultural exports, particularly focusing on sub-sectors such as gaming, IP, short dramas, marketing, and publishing [5][36]. - The media industry (Shenwan) saw a slight increase of 0.21% from January 26 to February 1, 2026, outperforming the Shanghai Composite Index, which decreased by 0.44% [12][36]. - The advertising and marketing segment led the growth with a 4.70% increase, while other segments like publishing and digital media experienced declines [12][36]. Market Performance - The media industry (Shenwan) increased by 0.21% during the week of January 26 to February 1, 2026, while the Shanghai Composite Index decreased by 0.44% [12]. - The advertising and marketing sector showed the highest growth at 4.70%, followed by the film and cinema sector at 2.49%, while publishing, digital media, gaming, and television broadcasting saw declines of -0.75%, -1.31%, -1.94%, and -3.66% respectively [12][36]. Industry Key Data AI Applications - Tencent's "Yuanbao" app reached the top of the domestic Apple free app chart, with a significant week-on-week download increase of 97.76% [2][17]. - The weekly token call volume for the OpenRouter platform increased by 10%, reaching 8.25 trillion tokens [2][17]. Gaming - The top five mobile games on the iOS platform as of January 31, 2026, included "Honor of Kings" and "Peacekeeper Elite," with "Supernatural Action Group" surpassing 10 million daily active users [3][19]. - A total of 182 games received approval in the first batch of licenses for 2026, including 177 domestic and 5 imported games [19][22]. Film and Television - The total box office for domestic films during the week of January 26 to February 1, 2026, was 283 million yuan, with "Zootopia 2" leading the box office [28][30]. - Six films have been scheduled for release during the Spring Festival, indicating a robust upcoming film slate [29][30]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on AI applications and cultural exports, with specific attention to gaming, IP, short dramas, marketing, and publishing sectors [5][36]. - Companies highlighted for investment include Giant Network, Kuaishou, and Perfect World, among others [5][36].

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The total margin trading balance in A-shares decreased to 27,065.64 billion yuan, reflecting a slight decline of 25.24 billion yuan or 0.09% from the previous trading day, representing 2.64% of the A-share circulating market value [1]. Margin Trading Data - The margin trading turnover for the day was 2,453.77 billion yuan, which is an increase of 21.38 billion yuan or 0.88% from the previous trading day, accounting for 9.56% of the total A-share trading volume [1]. - The financing balance was reported at 26,898.40 billion yuan, with a decrease of 28.39 billion yuan or 0.11% [2]. Sector Performance - Among the 31 primary industries tracked by Shenwan, 12 industries experienced net financing inflows, with the telecommunications sector leading with a net inflow of 1.561 billion yuan. Other notable sectors included defense, media, home appliances, and non-ferrous metals [2]. Individual Stock Performance - A total of 39 stocks had net financing inflows exceeding 100 million yuan, with Aerospace Development leading at 970 million yuan. Other significant stocks included Tianfu Communication, Xinwei Communication, and several others [3][4].

Core Viewpoint - Recent rumors regarding potential increases in value-added tax (VAT) rates for the gaming and financial industries have caused significant fluctuations in gaming stocks, but these rumors have been debunked by industry experts and authorities [3][4]. Group 1: Stock Market Reactions - On February 3, gaming stocks experienced a sharp decline, with Tencent (00700.HK) dropping over 6% and NetEase (09999.HK) falling more than 3% during intraday trading [1]. - A recovery was observed by the end of the trading day, with A-share gaming stocks rebounding, including Century Huatong and Gigabit Technology, both rising over 2% [1]. - The gaming index (BK1406) increased by more than 3.4%, with several component stocks, such as Shunwang Technology, surging by 13.8% [1]. Group 2: Tax Rumors and Clarifications - Recent rumors suggested that the VAT rate for the gaming industry could rise from 6% to 32%, which sparked concern among investors [3]. - Experts confirmed that these rumors lack credibility, stating that the maximum VAT rate in China is capped at 13%, and no adjustments to the tax policies for the gaming and financial sectors have been made [4]. - The implementation of the new VAT law and related announcements by the tax authorities have clarified that the tax rates for these industries are stable and well-defined [4].

Core Viewpoint - Recent rumors regarding potential adjustments to the value-added tax (VAT) rates for industries such as gaming and finance have caused significant market fluctuations, particularly affecting major companies like Tencent and NetEase. However, these rumors have been debunked by authoritative sources, confirming that no such changes are planned [1][4]. Group 1: Market Impact - The rumors about VAT adjustments led to substantial declines in stock prices for companies in the gaming and finance sectors, with Tencent dropping over 6% and NetEase fluctuating between gains and losses of more than 3% [1]. - Other companies such as Century Huatong and Giant Network also experienced significant stock price drops, with Century Huatong falling over 9% during trading [1]. Group 2: Clarification of Rumors - Experts and industry insiders have confirmed that the rumors regarding VAT increases, including a potential rise in the gaming industry's tax rate from 6% to 32%, are unfounded [4]. - The current VAT law in China stipulates that the maximum VAT rate is 13%, and there are no provisions for a 32% rate, further discrediting the rumors [4]. - Recent announcements from the financial and tax authorities have clarified that there will be no changes to the VAT policies affecting the gaming and finance sectors, ensuring stability and certainty in the tax regime [4].

增值税传闻扰动市场。 近期，一些关于调整游戏、金融等行业增值税税率的传言在部分网络平台上传播。其中，提及金 融业、互联网增值服务等或将面临增值税税率上调，游戏行业的税率有可能从6%调高至32%。 自2026年1月1日起，《中华人民共和国增值税法》和《中华人民共和国增值税法实施条例》同步 施行。专家表示，财税部门近期发布了多项关于增值税政策的公告，这些政策主要是为了更好落 实增值税法、确保立法后的税制连贯性，其中对于游戏、金融等行业适用税率等政策都有明确的 规定，增强了政策确定性和稳定性。 "实际上，增值税立法后，增值税相关行业的税率都已明确，财税部门日前发布多项公告，也没有 调整游戏、金融行业增值税政策。上述传言不具备真实性。"一位业内人士表示。 这位业内人士称，网络传言中还提及游戏行业的税率要"从6%的档次调高至32%的档次"。但 实际 上，目前我国增值税法明确规定，增值税税率最高仅为13%，32%这个档次是不存在的，进一步 说明传言不具备可信度。 综合自：新华社 责编：万健祎 校对： 许欣 受传闻影响，腾讯、网易、世纪华通、三七互娱、巨人网络等盘中一度大幅跳水，其中，腾讯一 度跌超6%，网易从涨超3%一度 ...

Group 1 - On February 3, the A-share gaming sector experienced a dramatic V-shaped reversal, with companies like Century Huatong (002602 SZ) initially seeing stock declines due to rumors of increased taxes on internet value-added services, but later rebounding after the rumors were debunked [1] - During the morning session on February 3, several A-share gaming stocks fell, with Century Huatong dropping over 8%, while other companies like 37 Interactive Entertainment (002555 SZ) and Giant Network (002558 SZ) also saw declines. However, by the end of the day, the gaming sector index rose over 3% [1] - The initial drop in stock prices was attributed to rumors suggesting that the financial and internet value-added services, including in-game purchases and advertising, might be targeted for tax rate adjustments, similar to the liquor tax rates [1] Group 2 - On January 31, the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration announced adjustments to the VAT tax rates, increasing the rate for telecom services from 6% to 9%, which could impact the revenue and profits of telecom operators [2] - Various debunking messages emerged on February 3, clarifying that the definition of value-added telecom services excludes mobile data and broadband access services, and that the rumors about gaming tax rates aligning with liquor taxes were based on a misunderstanding of different tax types [3] - Game companies reported that they had not received any official documents regarding tax rate adjustments, and there were no recent meetings or discussions on the topic, indicating skepticism about the validity of the tax increase rumors [3]