Update: It has been confirmed that the executive order against WeChat will not affect other Tencent-owned properties, in particular its videogame concerns.
Original story: US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order banning any transactions related to WeChat, a popular messaging service which is owned by Chinese conglomerate Tencent Holdings. Announced in tandem with a similar order targeting social media service TikTok, the new restrictions will take effect in 45 days.
While the order specifically targets WeChat, there was enough ambiguity Activision Blizzard, among many others. But LA Times reporter Sam Dean has received confirmation from the White House that video game companies will not be affected:
Video game companies owned by Tencent will NOT be affected by this executive order!White House official confirmed to the LA Times that the EO only blocks transactions related to WeChatSo Riot Games (League of Legends), Epic Games (Fortnite), et al are safe(pending updates)August 7, 2020
The most sweeping part of the WeChat order reads: "The following actions shall be prohibited beginning 45 days after the date of this order, to the extent permitted under applicable law: any transaction that is related to WeChat by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with Tencent Holdings Ltd."
This can be read to mean that only WeChat-related transactions are affected, although some initially feared that all transactions with Tencent were prohibited by the order. Needless to say, if a ban were imposed on all Tencent properties, the results could be disastrous for a large portion of the games industry.
to be taken over by Microsoft.
WeChat has no known US suitors waiting in the wings. In 2018 the app was reported to have over a billion monthly active s. In June, India banned use of the app.
US companies are currently banned from doing business with Chinese information tech company Huawei.
