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Cheche Group Reports First Half 2026 Unaudited Financial Results

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BEIJING, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cheche Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CCG) (“Cheche”, “the Company” or “we”), China’s leading auto insurance technology platform, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2026.

Key Business Highlights

Partnerships with New Energy Vehicle (NEV) companies numbered 18 in the first half 2026 and led to 1,049,000 policies with corresponding written premium of RMB3.2 billion (US$472.0 million), representing an increase of 29.5% and 23.7%, respectively, compared to the prior-year period.

Net revenues decreased 34.4% to RMB885.0 million (US$130.4 million) as we have been proactively restructuring business portfolio to focus on high-margin segments.

Gross margin increased to 6.5% from 4.9% in the prior-year period, driven by an improved business mix, with NEV premiums increasing to 31.0% of total written premiums from 22.5% in the prior-year period.

Management Comments

“In the first half of 2026, Cheche made meaningful progress in reshaping our business for the next phase of growth,” said Lei Zhang, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Cheche. “We made deliberate choices to shift away from lower-margin, less strategic revenue streams and concentrate our resources on the business and capabilities where we believe we can create greater long-term value through technology, data and differentiated solutions. As a result, while net revenues declined 34.4% to RMB885.0 million, gross margin expanded by 160 basis points, reflecting a fundamentally stronger revenue mix.

“This transformation is now visibly expressed in our recent launch of the ABAO Agent Family – a suite of five specialized AI agents, built on Cheche’s proprietary vertical insurance large language model that spans the full NEV insurance lifecycle from dynamic pricing to claims processing. Together with our Cheche Score and proprietary NEV intelligent pricing model, ABAO marks our strategic evolution from a digital insurance transaction platform into an AI-driven insurance infrastructure provider. These capabilities are deepening our relationships with insurance carrier partners, improving the economics of our core operations and expanding the ways in which our technology can be applied.

“Transformation requires discipline, and we remain focused on streamlining operations, strengthening our foundation and directing resources toward our highest-value opportunities. We are also exploring ways to broaden our platform and enhance the scale and resilience of our operations as we enter the next phase of our evolution. Our objective is to build a more diversified enterprise with the flexibility to pursue compelling opportunities while maintaining disciplined execution and a clear focus on shareholder value.”

Unaudited First Half Year 2026 Financial Results

Net Revenues were RMB885.0 million (US$130.4 million), representing a 34.4% year-over-year decrease from the prior-year period as a result of the restructuring of our business portfolio.

Cost of Revenues decreased 35.5% year-over-year to RMB827.6 million (US$122.0 million) from the prior-year period due to a decline in net revenues and higher gross margin driven by the restructuring of our business portfolio.

Gross profit decreased 12.6% to RMB57.5 million (US$8.5 million) compared to the prior-year period due to the decrease of net revenues, partially offset by the improved business structure which led to a higher gross margin.

Selling and Marketing Expenses decreased 4.3% to RMB35.6 million (US$5.3 million) from RMB37.3 million in the prior-year period, mainly due to the decrease in staff cost and share-based compensation expenses. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, selling and marketing expenses were RMB34.5 million (US$5.1 million), a decrease of 2.5% compared to the prior-year period.

General and Administrative Expenses increased 55.4% to RMB57.9 million (US$8.5 million) from RMB37.3 million for the prior-year period due to the recognition of RMB35.1 million (US$5.2 million) specific allowance of credit losses for long-aged and high-risk receivables, partially offset by the decrease in share-based compensation expenses and professional service fees. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, general and administrative expenses increased 112.7% year over year, from RMB26.6 million to RMB56.5 million (US$8.3 million).

Research and Development Expenses decreased 21.0% to RMB14.5 million (US$2.1 million) from RMB18.3 million in the prior-year period, mainly due to the decrease in staff costs and professional service fees. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, research and development expenses decreased 21.0% to RMB14.1 million (US$2.1 million) from RMB17.8 million in the prior-year period.

Total Operating Expenses increased 16.4% to RMB108.0 million (US$15.9 million) from RMB92.8 million in the prior-year period, mainly due to the recognition of specific allowance of credit losses for long-aged and high-risk receivables, partially offset by the decrease in staff cost, share-based compensation expenses and professional service fees. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, total operating expenses increased 31.8% to RMB105.1 million (US$15.5 million) from RMB79.8 million in the prior-year period.

Net Loss increased 72.3% to RMB44.1 million (US$6.5 million) from RMB25.6 million in the prior-year period. Excluding non-GAAP expenses, the Adjusted Net Loss increased 257.7% to RMB37.7 million (US$5.6 million) from RMB10.5 million in the prior-year period.

Net Loss Per Share, basic and diluted, was RMB18.57 (US$2.74), increasing RMB7.68 from a loss of RMB10.89 for the prior-year period.

Adjusted Net Loss Per Share, basic and diluted, was RMB15.89 (US$2.34), increasing RMB11.4 from a loss of RMB4.49 for the prior-year period.

First Half Year 2026 Business Developments

On January 29, 2026, Cheche announced that Volkswagen (Anhui) Digital Sales and Services Co., Ltd (“DSSO”), Beijing Cardif Airstar Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd. (“Cardif Airstar Insurance”), and Cheche Group Inc. held a strategic cooperation signing ceremony on January 29, 2026. They will collaborate to develop digital insurance services for Volkswagen owners and expand into areas such as intelligent pricing, intelligent-driving insurance, and non-auto insurance. The partnership aims to establish a digital financial and insurance service system covering the full lifecycle of electric vehicle ownership.

On May 28, 2026, Cheche announced the official launch of its proprietary, AI large model-driven intelligent connected vehicle pricing product. Targeting China’s expanding market of approximately 20 million intelligent connected NEVs, the platform utilizes advanced machine learning and multi-dimensional data analytics. By analyzing real-time driving behavior, usage patterns, and localized risk scenarios, the technology delivers precise, personalized insurance pricing tailored to individual drivers.

On June 22, 2026, Cheche announced the official launch of “ABAO Agent,” an AI-powered intelligent underwriting agent. ABAO Agent is now commercially deployed in auto insurance renewal scenarios at scale. Its 24/7 autonomous capabilities allow the agent to independently execute the complete renewal workflow—customer outreach, needs identification, policy follow-up, and conversion—functions that previously required dedicated human teams. The result is a reduction in labor and operational costs for carrier partners, with no compromise to service continuity.

On June 24, 2026, Cheche announced the launch of “Cheche Score,” a proprietary AI-powered dynamic pricing solution for NEV insurance. Cheche Score is fully commercialized and functioning across multiple cities in China. Cheche has entered into dedicated AI-powered renewal cooperation agreements with several of China’s largest insurance carriers, jointly building a digital operating ecosystem that connects intelligent pricing, precision renewal, and closed-loop customer service.

On September 1, 2026, Cheche announced the launch of the ABAO Agent Family, a suite of five specialized AI agents built on Cheche’s proprietary vertical insurance large language model. Spanning the full NEV insurance lifecycle, from dynamic pricing optimization to claims processing and specialized diagnostics, the ABAO Agent Family marked Cheche’s strategic evolution from a digital insurance transaction platform into an AI-driven insurance infrastructure provider.

Balance Sheet

As of June 30, 2026, the Company had RMB173.7 million (US$25.6 million) in total cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments.

Business Outlook

For the full year 2026:

Cheche is revising its Net Revenue guidance to an approximate range of RMB1.5 billion to RMB1.8 billion, from the previously announced approximate range of RMB3.0 billion to RMB3.2 billion, to reflect the impact of its ongoing business restructuring.

Cheche is revising its NEV Written Premiums Placed guidance to an approximate range of RMB8.0 billion to RMB10.0 billion from the previously announced approximate range of RMB10.5 billion to RMB 12.0 billion, to reflect the change of NEV sales in the domestic market.

Cheche ceased using Total Written Premiums Placed as a key business performance indicator as a result of its strategic pivot.

Cheche is estimating an Adjusted Net Loss range of RMB42.7 million to RMB47.4 million for the full year 2026, due primarily to the ongoing restructuring.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the reader’s convenience. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB6.7851 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on June 30, 2026, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or U.S. dollar amounts referenced could be converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

About Cheche Group Inc.

Established in 2014 and headquartered in Beijing, China, Cheche is a leading auto insurance technology platform with a nationwide network of around 101 branches licensed to distribute insurance policies across 25 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. Capitalizing on its leading position in auto insurance transaction services, Cheche has evolved into a comprehensive, data-driven technology platform that offers a full suite of services and products for digital insurance transactions and insurance SaaS solutions in China. Learn more at https://www.chechegroup.com/en. 

Cheche Group Inc.:

IR@chechegroup.com 

Crocker Coulson
crocker.coulson@aummedia.org
(646) 652-7185

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Cheche has provided non-GAAP financial measures in this press release that have not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States.

Cheche uses adjusted selling and marketing expenses, adjusted general and administrative expenses, adjusted research and development expenses, adjusted total operating expenses, adjusted net loss, and adjusted net loss per share, which are non-GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes.

Cheche defines adjusted total operating expenses as total operating expenses adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation. Cheche defines adjusted net loss as net loss adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, and changes in fair value of amounts due to a related party related to the acquisition of Cheche Insurance Sales & Services Co., Ltd. (previously named Fanhua Times Sales and Service Co., Ltd), and change in fair value of warrants. Adjusted net loss per share, basic and diluted, is calculated as adjusted net loss divided by weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding.

Cheche believes that these non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business that could otherwise be distorted by the impact of share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets related to acquisition, and change in fair value of amounts due to a related party related to the acquisition of Cheche Insurance Sales & Services Co., Ltd. (previously named Fanhua Times Sales and Service Co., Ltd), and change in fair value of warrants. Cheche believes that such non-GAAP financial measures also provide useful information about its operating results, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by its management in its financial and operational decision-making.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. They should not be considered in isolation or construed as alternatives to net loss or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of Cheche’s operating performance. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company’s data. Cheche encourages investors and others to review the Company’s financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. Investors are encouraged to compare the historical non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Cheche mitigates these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP performance measures, all of which should be considered when evaluating its performance.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements regarding projections, estimations, and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and expectations, the Company’s ability to scale and grow its business, the Company’s advantages and expected growth, and its ability to source and retain talent, as applicable. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties, or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, the Company cautions you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of the Company as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. Except as may be required by law, the Company does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.

 

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per
share data)

December 31,

June 30,

June 30,

2025

2026

2026

RMB

RMB

USD

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

144,511

131,730

19,415

Restricted cash

5,000

41,779

6,157

Short-term investments

226

226

33

Amounts due from related parties

–

14,303

2,108

Accounts receivable, net

1,145,752

665,931

98,146

Prepayments and other current assets

60,059

64,256

9,470

Total current assets

1,355,548

918,225

135,329

Non-current assets:

Restricted cash

21,086

–

–

Property, equipment and leasehold improvement, net

831

893

132

Intangible assets, net

3,850

2,800

413

Right-of-use assets

6,453

5,016

739

Goodwill

84,609

84,609

12,470

Other non-current assets

2,477

1,981

292

Total non-current assets

119,306

95,299

14,046

Total assets

1,474,854

1,013,524

149,375

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

842,728

430,847

63,499

Short-term borrowings

80,500

98,190

14,471

Contract liabilities

1,044

1,238

182

Salary and welfare benefits payable

83,686

79,321

11,690

Tax payable

22,657

18,320

2,700

Amounts due to a related party

50,626

52,949

7,804

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

19,206

20,167

2,974

Short-term lease liabilities

4,727

3,510

517

Total current liabilities

1,105,174

704,542

103,837

Non-current liabilities:

Deferred tax liabilities

963

700

103

Long-term borrowings

9,800

–

–

Long-term lease liabilities

801

604

89

Deferred revenue

1,432

1,432

211

Warrant

1,512

1,544

228

Total non-current liabilities

14,508

4,280

631

Total liabilities

1,119,682

708,822

104,468

Ordinary shares

6

6

1

Treasury stock

(1,025)

(1,025)

(151)

Additional paid-in capital

2,550,197

2,553,093

376,279

Accumulated deficit

(2,192,846)

(2,236,903)

(329,679)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(1,160)

(10,469)

(1,543)

Total the Company’s shareholders’ equity

355,172

304,702

44,907

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

1,474,854

1,013,524

149,375

 

 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (All amounts in
thousands, except for share and per share data)

For the Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2025

2026

2026

RMB

RMB

USD

Net revenues

1,348,652

885,048

130,440

Cost of revenues

(1,282,869)

(827,573)

(121,969)

Gross profit

65,783

57,475

8,471

Operating expenses:

Selling and marketing expenses

(37,250)

(35,637)

(5,252)

General and administrative expenses

(37,255)

(57,902)

(8,534)

Research and development expenses

(18,293)

(14,457)

(2,131)

Total operating expenses

(92,798)

(107,996)

(15,917)

Operating loss

(27,015)

(50,521)

(7,446)

Other expenses:

Interest income

1,669

1,112

164

Interest expense

(1,213)

(1,396)

(206)

Foreign exchange gains

893

6,630

977

Government grants

1,295

2,839

418

Changes in fair value of warrant

1,114

(80)

(12)

Changes in fair value of amounts due to related party

(2,052)

(2,330)

(343)

Others, net

(454)

(552)

(81)

Loss before income tax

(25,763)

(44,298)

(6,529)

Income tax benefit

195

241

36

Net loss

(25,568)

(44,057)

(6,493)

Other comprehensive loss:

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil tax

(1,302)

(9,316)

(1,373)

Fair value changes of amounts due to related party due to own credit risk

(453)

7

1

Total other comprehensive loss

(1,755)

(9,309)

(1,372)

Total comprehensive loss

(27,323)

(53,366)

(7,865)

Net loss per ordinary shares outstanding(1)

Basic

(10.89)

(18.57)

(2.74)

Diluted

(10.89)

(18.57)

(2.74)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding(1)

Basic

2,348,249

2,372,032

2,372,032

Diluted

2,348,249

2,372,032

2,372,032

(1) The shares and per share information are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the 35-for-1 share consolidation of its Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares effective on July 20, 2026.

 

 

Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Expenses to Non-GAAP Operating Expenses (Unaudited)

(All amounts in thousands)

For the Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2025

2026

2026

RMB

RMB

USD

Selling and marketing expenses

(37,250)

(35,637)

(5,252)

Add: Share-based compensation expenses

1,851

1,135

167

Adjusted Selling and marketing expenses

(35,399)

(34,502)

(5,085)

General and administrative expenses

(37,255)

(57,902)

(8,534)

Add: Share-based compensation expenses

10,674

1,354

200

Adjusted General and administrative expenses

(26,581)

(56,548)

(8,334)

Research and development expenses

(18,293)

(14,457)

(2,131)

Add: Share-based compensation expenses

512

407

60

Adjusted Research and development expenses

(17,781)

(14,050)

(2,071)

Total operating expenses

(92,798)

(107,996)

(15,917)

Adjusted total operating expenses

(79,761)

(105,100)

(15,490)

 

 

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Loss and Net Loss Per Ordinary Share to Non-GAAP Net Loss and Net Loss Per
Ordinary Share (Unaudited)

(All amounts in thousands, except for share data and per share data)

For the Six Months Ended

June 30,

June 30,

June 30,

2025

2026

2026

RMB

RMB

USD

Net loss

(25,568)

(44,057)

(6,493)

Add: Share-based compensation expenses

13,040

2,896

427

Amortization of intangible assets related to acquisition

1,050

1,050

155

Changes in fair value of warrant

(1,114)

80

12

Changes in fair value of amounts due to related party

2,052

2,330

343

Adjusted net loss

(10,540)

(37,701)

(5,556)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in
computing non-GAAP adjusted net loss per ordinary
share(1)

Basic

2,348,249

2,372,032

2,372,032

Diluted

2,348,249

2,372,032

2,372,032

Net loss per ordinary share(1)

Basic

(10.89)

(18.57)

(2.74)

Diluted

(10.89)

(18.57)

(2.74)

Non-GAAP adjustments to net loss per ordinary share(1)

Basic

6.40

2.68

0.40

Diluted

6.40

2.68

0.40

Adjusted net loss per ordinary share(1)

Basic

(4.49)

(15.89)

(2.34)

Diluted

(4.49)

(15.89)

(2.34)

(1) The shares and per share information are presented on a retroactive basis to reflect the 35-for-1 share consolidation of its Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares effective on July 20, 2026.

 

 

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Haloid Poll: Majority of Public Safety and Commercial Radio Administrators Would Consider Starlink Integration With LMR Two-Way Radio Networks, but Disruption Unlikely

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STONY BROOK, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Following Starlink’s announced entry into the mobile communications space, Haloid’s consulting team polled government and business land mobile radio (LMR) administrators on whether Starlink could replace, or complement, their LMR systems. We found that most radio administrators were receptive to the nascent technology but did not see it as a replacement for their LMR networks.

Sixty-seven percent of radio administrators said they would be willing to integrate Starlink technology if it allowed them to expand coverage or lower infrastructure costs. When asked whether Starlink could completely replace their LMR networks, fewer than 15 percent said yes; the vast majority believed Starlink is not as reliable as the custom networks they have built. Among administrators who already use two-way radio over cellular (also known as push-to-talk over cellular, or PoC), however, nearly 80 percent said that Starlink’s satellite coverage, combined with its newly acquired cellular spectrum, would make it more desirable than the industry’s wireless incumbents because it could eliminate dead spots where cellular does not reach.

In the U.S., hundreds of thousands of radio users rely on traditional cellular carriers for push-to-talk communications, and that number grows each year. While the migration to two-way radio over cellular has affected the LMR industry, it has not replaced it. Many public safety agencies never made the switch, citing the risk that cellular networks could go down during weather events, power outages, or cyberattacks and jeopardize emergency communications.

In fact, during recent cellular outages, Starlink was used to provide emergency communications to affected areas, because its satellite connectivity does not depend on cell towers. But Starlink’s integration with the 800 MHz cellular spectrum — “Starlink 2.0,” as some experts are calling it — exposes it to some of the same vulnerabilities as traditional wireless carriers.

While Starlink’s satellite service might still function if local cell towers go down, a critical portion of an agency’s communications might rely on local towers using the 800 MHz spectrum, leaving the agency vulnerable in a storm or outage.

Expect evolution, not disruption

“Just like cellular didn’t replace LMR, we don’t see Starlink as an existential risk,” said Jeremy Alicandri, President of Haloid Solutions. He expects Starlink to accelerate the industry’s evolution toward shared communications infrastructure, also known as hybrid LMR. “We have public safety customers already using Starlink in their vehicles to extend the coverage of their radios. This trend will continue as Starlink devices become more ubiquitous.”

The stock prices of Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T were affected by Starlink’s recent announcement. LMR stocks such as L3Harris, JVCKENWOOD, and BK Technologies, maker of the Bendix King brand, have been unaffected, as Wall Street views Starlink as unlikely to replace LMR technology for the same reasons cellular did not. “But it may be too early to predict the industry’s winners and losers,” Alicandri added. “The cellular incumbents have many advantages, including low-cost devices, existing infrastructure, and their own satellite ambitions.”

About Haloid Solutions Research

Haloid’s Starlink poll drew on respondents to its LMR brand loyalty study, which measures radio administrators’ sentiment toward the ownership and after-sales experience. Haloid’s LMR research is sponsored by investors in the mission-critical communications space.

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Newborn Town and Viggle Launch AI-Powered 3D Interactive Game, Bringing World Models to Social Gaming

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HONG KONG, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, Newborn Town’s game-oriented social platform TopTop has launched “Slap Showdown”, an AI-powered 3D interactive mini-game developed in collaboration with Viggle, a company specializing in physics-native world models. The launch brings world model technology into social gaming, offering users a more personalized and engaging interactive experience.

Developed by TopTop and powered by Viggle’s self-developed Joint Space-Time (JST) world model, “Slap Showdown” lets users turn uploaded photos into customized 3D characters and take them straight into the game.

Launched in September, “Slap Showdown” has gained particular traction in Japan, among Spanish-speaking users in North America, and across the Middle East. It is now available in multiple countries and regions worldwide.

From Better Gameplay to a Richer Ecosystem: How World Models Could Redefine Social Gaming on TopTop

In terms of gameplay, “Slap Showdown” combines AI-generated 3D characters with multiplayer interaction. Players can simply upload a photo from their phone and generate a personalized 3D character in around 30 seconds, whether it’s an anime protagonist, a cyberpunk cyborg, or a LEGO minifigure. They can then bring their custom characters into the game and face off against other players in fun, interactive battles.

As players use controls such as press-and-hold, tap, and drag, the 3D characters respond with realistic, physics-based movements. This takes AI-generated characters beyond visual customization, integrating them directly into the gameplay experience.

According to TopTop’s operations team, “Slap Showdown” has attracted a growing base of highly engaged, high-spending-potential players in its first month since launch. The game has recorded a 97% match completion rate, while its game-start rate has also exceeded the platform-wide average.

The depth of user engagement is further illustrated by individual player activity. One player in Japan completed 1,041 matches over 22 days, reaching a daily peak of 151 matches and averaging one match every 9.5 minutes. Another particularly avid player in Eastern Europe completed 735 matches in just 11 days, averaging 66.8 matches per day and peaking at 126 matches in a single day.

For a UGC-driven social gaming platform such as TopTop, mini-games serve as entry points and traffic drivers, while social features underpin retention and monetization. Personalized 3D avatars add another dimension to that experience. Beyond their visual appeal, they give users new ways to express themselves, interact with friends and share memorable moments. In turn, richer gameplay and more meaningful social interactions can help improve retention, attract new users and strengthen engagement across the platform.

“Slap Showdown” marks a successful step in TopTop’s efforts to deepen its application of AI technology, as well as a starting point for using world models to enhance gaming and social experiences. TopTop’s operations team said future game releases could make greater use of AI-powered 3D generation, extending beyond avatars to include customized environments. Existing games could also be revitalized by the introduction of new gameplay features, potentially driving stronger retention and user acquisition.

Beyond enriching gameplay, world model capabilities could also reshape social interaction itself, enabling more immersive, face-to-face experiences in virtual spaces. “We’re constantly exploring how AI can transform gaming and social interaction, while bringing new energy and capabilities to our UGC ecosystem,” TopTop’s operations team said.

Viggle Unveils Physics-Native Model JST-2, Setting Its Sights on Becoming the Infrastructure Layer for Physical AI

The world model technology powering “Slap Showdown” is provided by Viggle.

Founded in 2022, Viggle has focused on developing physics-native world foundation models. Its self-developed JST model can generate 3D characters, motion and environments directly, providing a foundation for gaming and a growing range of AI applications.

Viggle previously attracted widespread attention with Meme Maker, its AI-powered video creation product. The tool enables users to animate static characters and generate videos by applying specified movements, making AI character animation and video creation more accessible. In August 2024, Viggle raised USD 19 million in a Series A funding round led by Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).

However, video creation was an early application of this technology. Viggle’s longer-term ambition is to make JST a foundational technology for AI-powered experiences across gaming, social platforms and other applications.

Viggle is now further expanding its technological boundaries. On 19 October, Viggle launched JST-2 in full, likening its significance for world models to GPT-2’s role in the evolution of language models.

Unlike many world models that infer physical structure indirectly from pixels, JST-2 is built around a physics-native architecture designed to learn the structure and dynamics of the 3D world directly. Its underlying representation consists of units resembling digital “atoms.” Each has a defined position in three-dimensional space, along with physical properties such as material, color and mass, and information describing how it moves and responds to forces. This allows the model to do more than generate convincing images. It can represent and generate 3D characters, motion and scenes with an underlying understanding of their physical properties.

To support this approach, Viggle has developed an integrated technology stack spanning tokenization, model architecture, data engine, pre-training and post-training. After four years of research and development, JST-2 can generate characters, motion and scenes within a single unified architecture.

Compared with other approaches, JST-2 also demonstrates cost efficiency. JST-2 can generate a 3D scene in seconds, at an inference cost of less than one US cent. Once created, the content can be rendered locally without repeatedly running the foundation model to generate each frame.

It is noteworthy that world model technology remains at an early stage, but Viggle is already working toward more advanced capabilities.

Its next-generation model, JST-3, is intended to become a comprehensive world simulator. Such a system could underpin future game and graphics engines, while also serving as a virtual training environment for robotics and other forms of physical AI.

The longer-term goal is for JST-3 to learn the physical rules governing its simulated world directly from data, rather than relying on rules explicitly written by developers.

For Newborn Town, its investment in and partnership with Viggle represents an important step in exploring how advanced AI can reshape social gaming, promoting a deep integration of AI technology with its business operations.

As a leading global social entertainment company, Newborn Town has continued to deepen the use of AI across key areas in recent years, including product R&D, social recommendation systems, intelligent operations, safety and risk management, and marketing and user acquisition, supporting ongoing business growth.

Meanwhile, the company also continued to invest across the AI ecosystem, backing projects in areas including world models, AI companionship, AI Agents and AI interactive gaming. These investments have further enriched its AI application ecosystem, with Viggle among the AI companies previously backed by Newborn Town.

“Slap Showdown” represents an early step in bringing world models into social gaming. For Newborn Town and Viggle, the next challenge is to turn increasingly sophisticated AI capabilities into experiences that users find genuinely engaging — and compelling enough to keep coming back.

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SOURCE Newborn Town

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HKICEC Launches First-Ever Global Mobile Exchange Pavilion at Mobile Electronics Show

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Charting a New Milestone with Outstanding Achievements

HONG KONG, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong International Communications Electronic Chamber (HKICEC) made a landmark debut at the Global Sources Mobile Electronics Show, held from October 18-21, 2026, with the inaugural launch of the HKICEC Global Mobile Exchange Pavilion. Spanning 600 square meters, the pavilion brought together nearly 60 industry leaders from mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the UAE, the US and the UK. As the largest themed pavilion in the mobile electronics sector and a premier highlight of the exhibition, this event marks a new developmental milestone for HKICEC. The pavilion underscores the chamber’s dedication to bridging global markets and serving the communications and electronics industry, injecting vital new momentum into the synergy between Hong Kong’s technology sector and international trade.

The grand opening ceremony on October 18 marked the official launch of the first B2B pavilion in Hong Kong and Asia dedicated exclusively to mobile communications equipment. The milestone event was officiated by a distinguished lineup of devices global business, including  Dr. the Hon. Starry Lee Wai King, GBS, JP, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Legislative Council; Mr. Zhu Xiaodong, Director of the Kowloon Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Dr. the Hon. Horace Cheung Kwok Kwan SBS JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice, HKSAR; Mr. Liu Maozhou, Level 1 Bureau Rank Official, the Economic and Financial Department II, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Mr. Ho Lap Ki, Denny, JP, District Officer (Kwun Tong), Home Affairs Department; Mr James Liu, CEO of Global Sources; and Mr. Jacky Tse, Chairman of HKICEC, alongside HKICEC Management team. Together, they witnessed the official launch of the first B2B pavilion in Hong Kong and Asia dedicated to mobile communications equipment. The ceremony drew over a hundred political and business leaders, industry representatives, international exhibitors, and major media outlets, reflecting the event’s importance and the industry’s green trading development. Following the inauguration, officials toured the pavilion for high-level discussions with global exhibitors, signaling robust institutional backing for the industry and HKICEC’s strategic expansion.

During the four-day exhibition, the pavilion experienced a continuous flow of visitors. Communications and electronics suppliers and global buyers from overseas visited specifically for business matchmaking and negotiations, unlocking numerous commercial opportunities. Notably, the pavilion also featured a retrospective exhibit of 16 classic mobile phones, tracing the industry’s evolution from early ‘brick’ devices to Mainland China’s first official Apple release, the iPhone 3GS. The historical display proved to be a standout attraction, gathering large crowds throughout the event.

Beyond the exhibition floor, the chamber partnered with Global Sources to co-host an international forum on October 19. Under the theme ” From New Devices to New Life: Building a Global Mobile Device Lifecycle Ecosystem”, the event gathered experts from ecoATM, PCS Wireless, Cenwood, Our Hong Kong Foundation, and the Global Mobile Association. They engaged in profound discussions on cutting-edge topics including the global economic landscape, inventory management, ESG development, the circular ecology of new and used devices, and AI technology.  Attended by over 200 international representatives, the forum successfully catalyzed cross-border collaboration and established a new standard for sustainability discourse in the global mobile industry.

As a capstone to the comprehensive four-day events, HKICEC convened over 500 industry leaders, VIPs, and exhibitors for a high-profile networking banquet designed to accelerate cross-border business alliances. The gathering provided a premier platform for delegates to solidify collaborative ties and exchange strategic insights initiated from the pavilion. Ahead of the exhibition’s conclusion, a special ” Pearl Of The Orient • Victoria Harbour Cruise Party” was organized to showcase Hong Kong’s unique charm as a cosmopolitan city to global guests, providing a memorable networking experience against Hong Kong’s iconic skyline to formally cap off the week’s successes.

High-resolution images: https://bit.ly/3WqHMxu

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hkicec-launches-first-ever-global-mobile-exchange-pavilion-at-mobile-electronics-show-302918996.html

SOURCE The Hong Kong International Communications Electronic Chamber (HKICEC)

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