Is Tower of Fantasy owned by Tencent?

Is Tower of Fantasy owned by Tencent?

The Short Answer

No, Tower of Fantasy is not directly owned by Tencent, although the game is published by Level Infinite, a publishing division of the Chinese corporation Tencent.

Understanding the Relationship

Level Infinite, the publisher of Tower of Fantasy, is a subsidiary of Perfect World, a Chinese video game development company. Perfect World was founded in 2005 and has developed several popular MMORPGs, including "Perfect World III" and "Zhangfei".

Tencent, on the other hand, is a Chinese conglomerate with significant investments in various sectors, including gaming, music, and e-commerce. While Tencent does have a publishing division, they do not directly own or publish Tower of Fantasy.

Why the Confusion

The confusion surrounding the ownership of Tower of Fantasy stems from Tencent’s significant investments in various gaming companies. Tencent owns a majority stake in Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, and has also made investments in other gaming companies, such as Supercell, the developer of Clash of Clans.

Additionally, Tencent has been actively investing in the Chinese gaming industry, with a particular focus on mobile gaming. While these investments have raised concerns about the potential impact on game development and online platforms, they do not directly indicate ownership or control over Tower of Fantasy.

The Game’s Developer

Tower of Fantasy was developed by Hotta Studio, a Japanese game development company founded in 2003. Hotta Studio is known for its work on MMORPGs and has developed several successful games, including "Shengxiao Online" and "Martial Empires".

The Publishing Partner

Level Infinite, the publisher of Tower of Fantasy, is a relatively new entity, established in 2019. The company has partnered with Perfect World to publish Tower of Fantasy globally, with Level Infinite handling the game’s global distribution and marketing.

Why the Partnership

The partnership between Level Infinite and Perfect World was formed to leverage the strengths of both companies. Level Infinite, with its global marketing expertise, helped to expand Perfect World’s reach, while Perfect World, with its development expertise, ensured the game’s quality and localized content.

What it Means for Players

In summary, Tower of Fantasy is not owned by Tencent, but is instead published by Level Infinite, a subsidiary of Perfect World. The game’s developer, Hotta Studio, remains an independent entity.

While the game’s global success has raised concerns about potential control or censorship by Tencent, the partnership between Level Infinite and Perfect World has allowed the game to maintain its creative freedom.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tower of Fantasy is not owned by Tencent, but is instead published by Level Infinite, a subsidiary of Perfect World. The game’s developer, Hotta Studio, remains an independent entity, and the partnership between Level Infinite and Perfect World has allowed the game to maintain its creative freedom. While concerns about control and censorship may exist, the game’s success and popularity demonstrate that players can enjoy a game developed by a Japanese company and published by a Chinese company, without worrying about interference or censorship.

Appendix

Note: This article aims to provide accurate and unbiased information about Tower of Fantasy and its publishers. The information provided is based on publicly available sources and should not be taken as definitive or authoritative.