Tencent-backed video game live-streamers Douyu and Huya deny merger rumours as ByteDance deal threatens their status

China’s two largest video game live-streamers told Chinese media they have no plans to merge after a failed attempt in 2020, but they are collaborating

Tencent and ByteDance have reached an agreement to allow the live-streaming of Honour of Kings and League of Legends on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok

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Tencent-backed Huya is one of China’s leading video game live-streaming platforms. Fresh rumors have emerged about a merger with Douyu, also backed by Tencent, but regulators quashed a similar plan in 2020. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 5:00pm, 6 Feb 2024

Chinese video game live-streaming platform Douyu denied recent reports that it would finally be merging with main rival Huya – both backed by Tencent Holdings – but acknowledged the two firms are working together in some areas, according to local media reports.

Douyu said on Monday that there are no merger plans between the two companies, according to The Paper, an online news organisation under state-backed Shanghai United Media Group. The fresh rumours have emerged more than three years after regulators quashed a planned merger of the country’s two largest game live-streaming platforms orchestrated by Tencent.

The denial also came a day after Douyu and Huya jointly launched an online gala, which airs on February 6 and 7, featuring singing, dancing and other performances by influencers and live-streamers from both platforms.

Douyu and Huya did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

Increased collaboration between Douyu and Huya comes as Tencent looks to boost the audience for its main video game titles by burying the hatchet with rival ByteDance, the owner of TikTok. A new agreement will allow for players to live stream gameplay from the mobile game Honour of Kings, the most lucrative video game in the world, and League of Legends on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, the gaming studios behind the titles announced last month.

In January 2019, a court ruling in Tencent’s favour blocked ByteDance from being able to stream the games on its platforms, including Douyin and Xigua Video. That made Douyu and Huya the premier destinations for such content.