Chinese authorities have executed Xu Yao for the murder of billionaire gaming tycoon Lin Qi. Lin Qi, the founder of Yoozoo Games, died in 2020 after being poisoned. Xu Yao was convicted of the crime in 2024.
The poisoning occurred during a business dispute. Xu Yao had helped Lin Qi secure a Netflix deal for the popular science fiction trilogy '3 Body Problem'. However, Lin Qi later sidelined Xu Yao from certain business operations. This led Xu Yao to seek revenge in 2020. He disguised lethal substances as probiotic pills.
Lin Qi fell ill in December 2020 and died nine days later. He was 39 years old. At the time of his death, Lin Qi's net worth was estimated at around 6.8 billion yuan, equivalent to roughly GHS 4.2 billion. Police arrested Xu Yao shortly after Lin Qi was hospitalised. The poisoning also sickened several other individuals.
Yoozoo Games is well-known in China's gaming industry. The company developed the strategy game 'Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming'. In 2018, Lin Qi appointed Xu Yao to manage projects linked to the '3 Body Problem' franchise. This subsidiary was called Three-Body Universe. The Netflix adaptation of the '3 Body Problem' series, released in 2024, became a major success. Lin Qi was posthumously credited as an executive producer for the show.
A statement from Yoozoo Games confirmed the execution. It read: "Justice has ultimately been served." The company also expressed condolences to Lin Qi's family. "As colleagues who fought alongside him, all members of the company are grateful for the impartiality of the judicial process," the statement added. The Chinese court described Xu Yao's plot as "extremely despicable" during his 2024 conviction. Local media reports confirmed Xu Yao's execution. One of Xu Yao's other victims reportedly commented on social media: "Justice comes in the end, even if it's late."
This case highlights the extreme consequences of business disagreements in the rapidly growing tech and entertainment sectors. The value of intellectual property, like the '3 Body Problem' franchise, can reach billions of dollars. These high stakes can create intense rivalries. The swift finality of the execution underscores China's stance on severe crimes. It also brings closure to those affected by the poisoning.