Image Source: Visual China

BEIJING, June 17 (TMTPOST) — TikTok’s parent company ByteDance has dismissed its 101 Game Studio in Shanghai, according to a news report from Jiemian.

It is reported that half of the studio’s staff has left the company this week. The game studio reportedly had over 300 employees. 101 Game Studio started the adjustment one month ago. Employees who got laid off could receive an N+1 compensation package.

Besides 101 Game Studio in Shanghai, ByteDance is also adjusting other game businesses. Some projects have been axed as well. One of NUVERSE’s partners said that it would only collaborate with the company on one game title in the second half of 2022. The NUVERSE partner speculated that other products from the company might have encountered issues. NUVERSE is a game development company under ByteDance.

In 2019, ByteDance acquired the Shanghai-based Mokylin Group from 37 Interactive Entertainment and based on which the company established the 101 Game Studio. Before the acquisition, Mokylin Group developed games such as Quanminwushuang and Jueshengwulin. Quanminwushuang made it into the top 10 grossing chart during its first month after release.

The establishment of the 101 Game Studio was perceived as an important step for ByteDance’s entry into the game industry. After the success of Douyin and TikTok, ByteDance tried to follow Tencent’s route and enter the mobile gaming sector. In February this year, it was reported that NUVERSE was planning to develop an open-world game similar to Genshin Impact, which the 101 Game Studio was in charge of.

Most of recruitment posts from the 101 Game Studio have been removed from the Internet, Jiemian reported.

ByteDance’s decision to axe some of its game projects might be triggered by the lack of game registry number, which is required for releasing games in the Chinese market.

NUVERSE and 101 Game Studio did not respond to Jiemian’s request for comments.