Tencent has long been a prominent player in the gaming industry, earning its place in the Top 50 list of tech companies. With a strong focus on mobile gaming, Tom Petreca, Tencent's lead technology strategist for Latin America, shared insights on how developers can leverage the company's technology to create captivating and immersive experiences for players.

Among the technologies highlighted, the Game Multimedia Engine (GME) drew special attention. This software enhances audio and voice play in games, elevating immersion to a new level. GME enables voice communication and spatial interaction within multiplayer games, allowing players to communicate with each other based on their in-game distance. Petreca defines immersion as the interaction that bridges the virtual game with the physical world, and spatial audio plays a vital role in making games feel more realistic and taking design to the next level.

Immersion has become a critical aspect of gaming, as demonstrated in the console wars, where Sony's emphasis on 3D audio and haptic feedback helped the PS5 outsell the Xbox Series X. To stand out, developers need to go beyond visually stunning and well-designed audio elements and incorporate new technologies to create deeply immersive experiences.

Two key pieces of infrastructure discussed were the Anti-Cheat Expert (ACE) and WeTest. ACE identifies cheats and exploits, helping maintain fair play and reducing griefing in games. WeTest serves as a quality assurance and performance tester, continuously monitoring the game for issues before and after launch. Tencent's technology not only enhances immersion but also provides a smoother and frustration-free gaming experience for players. Notably, ACE's implementation in PUBG Mobile led to a significant 90% reduction in cheating incidents.

Gaming has evolved from a niche hobby to the most profitable sector in the entertainment industry, thriving on collaboration and innovation. Companies like Tencent are developing bespoke systems and technologies, and while exclusive rights may seem appealing, licensing these technologies can benefit the entire gaming ecosystem. Independent developers, especially, can struggle with the cost of creating proprietary systems to address common issues.

By licensing proven technologies from companies like Tencent, developers can focus their budgets elsewhere while still improving their games and ensuring a better experience for players.

In conclusion, Tencent's commitment to technology and immersive gaming experiences has solidified its position as a major player in the industry. By offering innovative solutions like GME, ACE, and WeTest, Tencent not only elevates its own games but also contributes to the overall growth and quality of the gaming ecosystem.

Source: Lewis Rees, Staff Writer at PocketGamer