Chongqing - Amidst the dynamic evolution of the digital economy, Chongqing has been at the forefront. Chongqing has been fostering a common development of culture and technology, focusing on the digital gaming sector. The city's recent strides in this domain redefine its digital industry landscape and underscore its prominence in national and global digital entertainment arenas.

The Call of Duty: Mobile's celebration event scene of the Chinese New Year. (Photo/Call of Duty: Mobile)

In an innovative venture in February 2024, Tencent Games, in collaboration with organizations such as Western China International Communication Organization (WCICO), unveiled the New Year's special event of Call of Duty: Mobile, ingeniously infusing the essence of Chongqing's iconic hot pot culture into the gaming experience. 

This fusion offered players an unprecedented entertainment experience and spotlighted the allure and distinctiveness of Chongqing's culinary culture. The Director of the Nan'an District Commission of Culture and Tourism Development remarked that the integration of the Call of Duty: Mobile IP with Chongqing's celebrated local hot pot brand, Pipayuan Hotpot, epitomizes a seamless melding of digital and traditional realms, enhancing consumer engagement across both spectrums. This creative amalgamation enriches the player's experience and pioneers a novel pathway for promoting Chongqing's cultural tourism.

The Call of Duty: Mobile's celebration event scene of the Chinese New Year. (Photo/Han Bing)

Further accentuating this synergy, following the League of Legends: Wild Rift National Finals hosted in October of the previous year, Chongqing Nan'an District initiated the "E-sports Consumption Season." Collaborating with illustrious e-sports IPs like VALORANT, Honor of Kings, and Naruto, these initiatives spotlight Nan'an District's pivotal role in propelling Chongqing towards becoming an international consumption center city, fostering growth across culture, tourism, sports, and commerce. Nan'an District's strategic emphasis on the digital content sector, spanning games, animation, and e-sports, aims to establish a robust ecosystem conducive to creative, technological, and industrial convergence.

The Call of Duty: Mobile's celebration event scene of the Chinese New Year. (Photo/Han Bing)

Chongqing's blueprint for digital industry progression encompasses a myriad of initiatives, from nurturing software industry clusters to enacting supportive policies for the information service sector, all underpinned by financial incentives to cultivate a conducive digital industry ecosystem. The city's achievement was exemplified in September 2020, with the Chongqing Software Park being earmarked as a key player in the national digital economy innovation and development pilot zone, aspiring to become a renowned software hub in China.

Chongqing Software Park (Photo/Chongqing Software Park)

Gao Yang, Deputy Manager of Chongqing Software Park, delineated the park's comprehensive strategies to foster its growth. The park leverages government-provided preferential policies, such as housing policies for talents, subsidies, and educational benefits, to attract and retain top-tier professionals. Collaborations with academic institutions are also in place to bolster talent development and acquisition. To support and entice businesses, the park has implemented cost-cutting measures, like rent reductions and financial incentives, facilitating a surge in enterprise engagements. Moreover, it hosts a plethora of technical and entrepreneurial events, creating a vibrant platform for companies to showcase their innovations and foster exchanges, thereby invigorating the park's creative dynamism and growth potential.

Gao said, "The park aspires to draw a broader array of enterprises and reinforce its industrial ecosystem. The focal point will be enhancing the park's technological innovation and market competitiveness, aiming to broaden the digital industry's horizons and position Chongqing as a vanguard in the global digital economy. Through these endeavors, Chongqing Software Park is set on a trajectory to advance its local digital landscape and make a mark on the global stage."

Moving forward, Chongqing is poised to harness its distinctive geographical strengths, rich cultural legacy, abundant human capital, and robust scientific expertise to catalyze innovation in the digital industry. By synergizing the dynamic growth of its cultural tourism with digital advancements, Chongqing is crafting comprehensive development strategies that promise to invigorate its economic landscape with newfound vigor. 

(Dong Hanying, as an intern, has contributed to the report)