Shenzhen aims to become global esports hub by promising cash rewards, subsidies to gamers

Esports games developed in Shenzhen qualify for 2mil yuan in cash rewards, and can receive 5mil yuan if selected by major gaming competitions. Shenzhen is home to more than 4,000 video gaming companies, including global leader Tencent Holdings, and they generated 160bil yuan in sales last year. — SCMP

China’s southern tech hub of Shenzhen has pledged generous subsidies and rewards in an ambitious plan to turn the city into an international esports hub, following similar proposals by Beijing and Shanghai, despite the country’s tightened controls over video gaming and live streaming.

The Shenzhen government laid out a road map for the next five years to strengthen the city’s esports industry by encouraging original esports game development and giving support to teams, tournaments and arenas, according to a draft plan issued by the city’s Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau on Friday. The bureau is soliciting public opinion on the plan through to October 24.