Eric was very pleased. He could feel that under his leadership, ioi was heading in the right direction, with signs of narrowing the gap with GOG for the first time.

He looked at Zhao Xuming: “Manager Zhao, Finger Company will officially release some information about ioi’s mobile version in the next couple of days. Dragon Yu Group’s task is to work with Finger Company to help spread this news effectively.”

“Of course, there’s another important matter: after ioi’s mobile version launches, Dragon Yu Group needs to liaise with channels and promote the mobile game.”

Zhao Xuming quickly nodded: “No problem, that’s my responsibility.”

Obviously, ioi’s mobile version had been in Eric’s plans all along. Since taking over ioi’s domestic operations as the “vanguard general” fighting directly against Tenda Group, he’d prepared on two fronts.

On one hand, updating versions and starting a price war; on the other, urging Finger Company to assign dedicated personnel for developing ioi’s mobile version.

Of course, converting a PC game to mobile wasn’t something that could be done overnight.

Tenda Group had quickly adapted GOG to mobile because GOG’s design inherently included mobile elements: shorter matches, smaller maps than ioi, and simpler game mechanics, reducing design obstacles.

Converting ioi from PC to mobile was definitely not a simple project.

Still, they could announce the news first to build anticipation.

Using ioi’s existing resources to create a simple demo, select heroes suitable for mobile controls, create preview videos with this demo, then upload these videos online to generate buzz and let ioi players know about it.

Just create the impression that “ioi is catching up and matching GOG,” which would greatly help promote ioi.

Zhao Xuming fully supported this, as he saw the arrival of the mobile gaming trend as inevitable. Ioi learning from GOG to create cross-platform connectivity was definitely following the trend.

Moreover, Dragon Yu Group had close ties with domestic mobile game distributors and even controlled some mobile channels themselves, making mobile promotion potentially easier than PC.

When ioi’s mobile game launched, veterans would surely try it, and many GOG mobile players tired of the game would test it too. If they could devise some good marketing plans…

It would definitely work!

Both Eric and Zhao Xuming were confident about ioi’s future strategies.

Though GOG’s domestic position was very stable and hard to shake, everything’s difficult at the start. As long as they persisted and gradually revitalized ioi domestically, they’d quickly create a positive cycle, and everything would turn around!

…

February 17th, Friday.

Ye Zhizhou hurried to Tenda’s gaming department to find Min Jingchao, who was busy developing GOG’s new version.

“Finger Company has made a new move!”

“Just now, they released several ioi mobile gameplay videos that look quite impressive.”

“However, I suspect… they used existing ioi PC game assets to create them. The game’s still far from completion – they’re at the ‘demo deception’ stage.”

“But ioi mobile development has clearly been prioritized, and we can’t ignore it.”

“Currently, these videos have gotten good responses on domestic and international video platforms, with many players expressing anticipation.”

“There are also people constantly comparing it to GOG mobile and generating buzz – probably Dragon Yu’s paid trolls stirring things up.”

Ye Zhizhou handed his phone to Min Jingchao, showing him several ioi mobile gameplay videos.

The videos featured classic ioi heroes like Chaos Calamity, Storm Blade, and Ghost Smith who shone in the recent global championships, plus some beginner-friendly “pubstomper” heroes.

These heroes shared a common trait: relatively simple mechanics that wouldn’t be too difficult to control when ported to mobile.

Also, these heroes brought their own hype – heroes like Storm Blade looked quite impressive, giving players a positive viewing experience.

Though they couldn’t play the game yet, just watching these videos was quite appealing.

“They come with ill intentions.”

Min Jingchao immediately saw Finger Company’s intent.

The current situation was an “offense and defense reversal.” Previously, GOG attacked while ioi defended passively, getting thoroughly beaten.

But now the roles were completely reversed.

GOG mobile was the pioneer, having gathered a massive player base. Due to its scale, it couldn’t make too many risky moves – a passive defensive stance.

Meanwhile, ioi mobile was a new game with many advantages: it could directly reference GOG’s existing gameplay, avoiding detours; it could directly link itself with GOG mobile for promotion, easily gaining massive attention.

This “leeching” tactic often worked very well, and the target had no good response. The more reactive the response, the more attention the other party gained.

If they chose to ignore it, the other party would leech even more brazenly, still gaining lots of attention.

Ye Zhizhou asked: “What should we do?”

Min Jingchao pondered a moment: “How about… let’s consult Mr. Pei?”

Though they could think of some countermeasures, this matter was too important. If handled poorly, the consequences would be severe – neither dared make the call.

GOG was currently Tenda Group’s most popular game with the widest influence and highest attention, also involving the GPL cash cow. Neither could afford to be careless.

After brief discussion, they agreed such an impactful matter needed Mr. Pei’s guidance to feel at ease.

After messaging the front desk and learning Mr. Pei was coincidentally in the office today, they went to the 16th floor and knocked gently on his office door.

“Come in.”

Mr. Pei’s voice sounded immediately.

Min Jingchao pushed the door open, Ye Zhizhou following.

“Mr. Pei, we’re here to report on Finger Company’s movements…”

Min Jingchao briefly explained Finger Company releasing ioi mobile previews and Dragon Yu buying trolls online to ride GOG’s coattails.

Pei Qian nearly slapped the table and cheered.

Eric did great!

Didn’t disappoint my expectations!

From the previous price war to now with ioi mobile and paid trolls riding GOG’s coattails, every move Eric made thoroughly satisfied Pei Qian.

The more Finger Company pressed, the more reason Pei Qian had to burn money fighting back.

But how exactly should they respond…

Pei Qian considered briefly.

His first instinct was fierce retaliation. They wanted attention? Give them attention. Tenda could spend lots of money too – why not?

But second thought made it seem dangerous.

Currently, GOG and ioi weren’t in the same league domestically. Fierce retaliation would let ioi gain considerable attention, but GOG would gain plenty too.

What if both sides had a “heated exchange,” riding each other’s coattails, leading to even higher GOG popularity and stronger player cohesion and identification?

Didn’t seem right.

What about completely ignoring it?

Didn’t seem good either. While not bringing GOG attention, ioi’s attention would accumulate very slowly. Threatening GOG would take forever – distant water couldn’t quench immediate thirst.

After brief consideration, Pei Qian decided to stick with his previous approach.

“Continue monitoring ioi’s moves. Whatever tactics they use, we’ll follow, but always ‘yield three points’ to them.”

“For example, if they spend 10 million on promotion, we spend 7 million; if they reduce skin prices by 10%, we follow with 7%.”

“Same for public opinion battles. If they provoke and want attention from us, we’ll respond. But when responding, always leave some room.”

Min Jingchao was stunned: “Uh… any other instructions, Mr. Pei?”

Pei Qian shook his head: “That’s all.”

Min Jingchao and Ye Zhizhou exchanged glances, both seeing confusion in the other’s eyes.

That’s it?

They thought Mr. Pei would immediately start “crushing all competition,” but he said to “yield three points”?

When previously consulting Mr. Pei, he usually gave revolutionary, creative suggestions – but this time seemed conventional, nothing special.

“Yielding three points” sounded nice but essentially meant passive defense, and Mr. Pei specifically emphasized spending less in price wars?

What logic was this?

But seeing Mr. Pei’s expression, clearly he’d said everything, leaving only a “figure it out yourselves” look.

So they had to leave.

Outside Mr. Pei’s office, both looked puzzled. This consultation clearly hadn’t achieved their desired effect.

How to handle ioi’s threat still lacked reliable countermeasures.

Or rather, Mr. Pei gave a reliable strategy, but they hadn’t grasped its deeper meaning.

Back on the 17th floor, they sat in the break room, sipping drinks while staring at each other.

Both saw the same attitude in each other’s eyes.

“You believe Mr. Pei’s thinking is this simple?”

“I don’t. You?”

“Neither do I.”

“Then Mr. Pei must have deeper thoughts we haven’t uncovered.”

“Think hard. We’re not leaving till we figure it out!”

They sipped drinks while pondering intensely.

Ye Zhizhou said: “Something’s fishy here.”

“When has Mr. Pei lost in spending money?”

“Previously in spending wars, he always spent more than opponents, whether games or physical industries.”

“But now Mr. Pei asks us to ‘yield three points’? Impossible! Completely against Mr. Pei’s usual style!”

Min Jingchao nodded: “Exactly.”

“Finger Company and Dragon Yu are our arch-enemies – competitors with no cooperation, zero rapport.”

“They started the price war, yet we yield three points? Why! Totally against Tenda’s usual style!”

“So Mr. Pei’s ‘yielding three points’ must have special purpose!”

The more they discussed, the more wrong it felt.

But what was wrong, neither could pinpoint.

Min Jingchao left the break room, returning moments later with two laptops.

“These contain GOG and ioi’s domestic data, including market share changes and other metrics. Let’s study them – might find clues.”

Ye Zhizhou nodded, taking one laptop.

They began aimlessly checking data, hoping to find traces.

Suddenly, Ye Zhizhou seemed to realize something: “I noticed something about market share and new game releases for other MOBA games like ioi and GOG.”

“GOG and ioi’s market share is obvious – GOG dominates domestically, internationally they compete evenly with GOG having slight advantage.”

“But other MOBA games deserve deeper thought.”

“Market share continuously declining, while new game releases increasingly rare.”

“At least five or six MOBA mobile games launched alongside GOG, but only one or two barely operating now, half-dead.”

“They died remarkably fast.”

Min Jingchao nodded: “Isn’t this known already?”

“Our competition with ioi naturally squeezes other similar games’ survival space. Only one winner survives.”

“Even old games like ‘Divine Revelation’ suffered severe impact.”

“Though data shows ‘Divine Revelation’ still has loyal fans that are hard to shake, barely any new players join.”

“More importantly, there were reports of big companies wanting to buy ‘Divine Revelation’ to create similar games to ioi or GOG, but ultimately kept delaying.”

Ye Zhizhou said: “What if we dig deeper into the reasons?”

“Why did these companies abandon MOBA games?”

“I believe intense market competition is one aspect, but another key reason is: anchoring effect!”

“Mr. Pei’s GOG pricing created an anchoring effect. After ioi was forced into price war with us, this effect solidified, making startup difficulty for other companies unprecedentedly high – they gave up!”

Min Jingchao nodded: “Yes, exactly.”

The anchoring effect was simple to understand: as MOBA games, all shared similar profit models – selling heroes, skins, and value-added services.

Can’t sell power, right? That’s suicide.

If all MOBA games priced skins at dozens of yuan, players wouldn’t find it strange.

This pricing let many emerging MOBA games barely survive.

Survival first enabled gradual growth.

But Mr. Pei forced GOG’s skins to bargain prices, then forced ioi into price war cutting skin prices too, creating anchoring effect: all players believe MOBA skins should be this cheap!

Thus, even if other companies made MOBA games matching GOG and ioi’s quality, they’d have virtually no success chance.

Due to anchoring effect, these companies faced a dilemma: if priced higher than GOG, players think you’re greedy; if priced same as GOG, can’t sustain operations.

GOG’s low skin prices work because of huge player base and GPL, allowing multiple profit methods; other MOBA games with few players rely on skin sales, then price them as cheaply – how to profit?

So GOG and ioi’s price war hurt other MOBA games first.

MOBA is winner-takes-all genre. With GOG’s massive user advantage and cheap pricing, what’s left for other MOBA games?

Ye Zhizhou continued: “So Mr. Pei’s ‘yielding three points’ strategy deserves deeper analysis.”

“Superficially, Mr. Pei seems to deliberately let ioi expand its user base. But considering carefully, isn’t he using ioi to continue eliminating other competitors?”

“GOG has massive user base and first-mover advantage. Even with 70% promotion budget, it can sustain against ioi. Let ioi persist and burn money – the fiercer we fight, the harder other MOBA games’ lives become.”

Min Jingchao frowned: “Borrowing others’ blades is good, but what if ioi outspends us? If their market share rises and enters positive cycle?”

Ye Zhizhou said: “That’s possible, but with Mr. Pei’s confidence, he clearly believes ioi can’t outspend us.”

“Mr. Pei said whatever they spend, we’ll match but ‘yield three points’.”

“This gap won’t disadvantage us while enticing Finger Company to keep spending. While expanding market share and helping us eliminate competitors, they also consume Dayak Group and Finger Company’s funds.”

“Mr. Pei’s ‘yielding three points’ isn’t retreat – it’s: considering you help me grab market, I’ll yield three points; but if you challenge me, whoever backs down is the loser!”

Min Jingchao understood: “Exactly, that must be Mr. Pei’s meaning! Hold back some power, play with Finger Company, burn money together to eliminate other competitors; when time’s right, deliver the fatal blow!”

Both felt reassured.

Since Mr. Pei had planned everything confidently, believing three-point handicap still guaranteed victory, what was there to worry about?