Huya Announces Return of E-sports Icon Uzi, Underscoring Huya's Growing Appeal to Top Streamers

Rhea-AI Summary

Huya (NYSE: HUYA) announced that e-sports icon Jian "Uzi" Zihao will return to the Huya platform, beginning with a special live stream on February 3, 2026. The move highlights Huya's appeal to top-tier streamers and its focus on gaming-centered content and licensed e-sports events.

Huya emphasized its ecosystem of licensed tournaments, self-produced events, and creator support as key differentiators that foster long-term streamer–audience engagement.

News Market Reaction – HUYA

+4.48%

4 alerts

+4.48% News Effect

+11.1% Peak Tracked

+$43M Valuation Impact

$1.00B Market Cap

0.6x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, HUYA gained 4.48%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +11.1% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 4 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $43M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $1.00B at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Special stream date: February 3 New users: Over 5 million App ranking: No. 1 +5 more

8 metrics

Special stream date February 3 Scheduled date for Uzi’s return stream on Huya

New users Over 5 million Goose Goose Duck mobile new registered users within 24 hours of launch

App ranking No. 1 Goose Goose Duck mobile on Apple App Store overall free apps and games

LPL teams 14 teams Participating League of Legends Pro League teams in 2025 Demacia Cup

Streamer squads 2 squads Streamer squads included in 2025 Demacia Cup

Pre-registrations More than 10 million Goose Goose Duck mobile pre-registrations as of November 2025

Total net revenues RMB1,688.3 million Q3 2025, up 9.8% year-over-year

Game-related revenue growth 29.6% Q3 2025 game-related services, advertising and other

Market Reality Check

Price: $3.94 Vol: Volume 2,856,549 is about...

normal vol

$3.94 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,856,549 is about in line with recent activity, at 0.83x the 20-day average 3,446,330. normal

Technical Price $4.24 is trading above the 200-day MA at $3.32, reflecting a recovery from prior lows.

Peers on Argus

Several Entertainment peers such as AMC, AMCX, PLAY, MCS, and RSVR show modest g...

Several Entertainment peers such as AMC, AMCX, PLAY, MCS, and RSVR show modest gains between about 0.73% and 2.03%, while HUYA was up 1.44% ahead of this news. The move appears more company-specific than a broad sector rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 08 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 08	Game launch performance	Positive	+14.5%	Goose Goose Duck mobile hit No. 1 with over 5M new users in 24 hours.
Dec 15	Esports tournament role	Positive	+0.0%	HUYA named official organizer and exclusive streamer for 2025 Demacia Cup.
Dec 08	Game launch date	Positive	+7.1%	Announced Jan 7, 2026 open beta for Goose Goose Duck mobile in China.
Dec 04	Industry award win	Positive	+1.1%	Recognized as Outstanding Esports Platform in 2025 Forbes China Esports 30.
Nov 12	Q3 2025 earnings	Positive	-4.3%	Reported 9.8% revenue growth and higher game-related services contribution.

Pattern Detected

Positive gaming and esports ecosystem updates have often coincided with gains, while earnings and some event news have seen muted or negative price reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, HUYA highlighted multiple strengths in its gaming ecosystem. On Jan 7, 2026, the Goose Goose Duck mobile launch drove strong user growth and a 14.47% move. December news covered Demacia Cup hosting, awards recognition, and Goose Goose Duck pre-registrations, generally aligning with modest positive reactions. Q3 2025 earnings on Nov 12, 2025 showed revenue growth but saw a -4.29% reaction. Today’s announcement about Uzi’s return fits the pattern of content- and talent-driven ecosystem updates.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement reinforces Huya’s focus on premium esports content by bringing back Uzi for a spec...

Analysis

This announcement reinforces Huya’s focus on premium esports content by bringing back Uzi for a special stream on February 3. It follows recent successes in game publishing, major tournament hosting, and recognition as an outstanding esports platform. Historically, such ecosystem updates have often coincided with positive moves, while earnings drew a mixed response. Investors may watch engagement metrics, game-related revenue mix, and future talent or tournament deals as follow-on indicators.

Key Terms

e-sports, live streaming platform

2 terms

e-sports technical

"a former top-tier professional League of Legends player widely recognized for his competitive achievements in the global e-sports industry"

E-sports are organized competitive video gaming events where players or teams compete against each other in popular video games. These events attract large audiences and generate significant revenue through sponsorships, advertisements, and streaming. For investors, e-sports represent a rapidly growing entertainment industry with potential opportunities in media rights, branding, and emerging digital markets.

live streaming platform technical

"As a gaming-focused live streaming platform, Huya differentiates itself from generalist platforms"

A live streaming platform is a digital service that broadcasts audio and video in real time to an online audience, often combined with live chat, subscriptions, advertising, or virtual tipping. Investors watch these platforms because they can attract large, engaged audiences and multiple ways to make money—like recurring fees, ads, and donations—so growth or falling user engagement directly affects future revenue potential and company value, similar to foot traffic in a busy retail location.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

GUANGZHOU, China, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HUYA Inc. ("Huya" or the "Company") (NYSE: HUYA), a leading game-related entertainment and services provider, today announced that Jian "Uzi" Zihao, a former top-tier professional League of Legends player widely recognized for his competitive achievements in the global e-sports industry, will return to the Huya platform commencing with a special live stream scheduled for February 3.

Uzi's return underscores Huya's growing appeal as a preferred destination for top-tier e-sports talent. Huya has consistently demonstrated its ability to attract and support leading and rising streamers, fostering an environment that nurtures long-term engagement between streamers and their audiences. The return of prominent streamers and the increasing recognition of Huya's streamer network across various content platforms further strengthens Huya's position within the gaming and live streaming industry.

As a gaming-focused live streaming platform, Huya differentiates itself from generalist platforms by offering specialized support for gaming content creators. With a comprehensive portfolio of licensed e-sports tournaments, self-produced events, and a large gaming fan base, Huya has cultivated an ecosystem that enables content creators to produce high-quality broadcasts and fosters the sustainable growth of its game-related businesses.

About HUYA Inc.

HUYA Inc. is a leading game-related entertainment and services provider. Huya delivers dynamic live streaming and video content and a rich array of services spanning games, e-sports, and other interactive entertainment genres to a large, highly engaged community of game enthusiasts. Huya has cultivated a robust entertainment ecosystem powered by AI and other advanced technologies, serving users and partners across the gaming universe, including game companies, e-sports tournament organizers, broadcasters and talent agencies. Leveraging this strong foundation, Huya has also expanded into innovative game-related services, such as game distribution, in-game item sales, advertising and more. Huya continues to extend its footprint in China and abroad, meeting the evolving needs of gamers, content creators, and industry partners worldwide.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook in this announcement, as well as Huya's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Huya may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Huya's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Huya's goals and strategies; Huya's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the live streaming market and game market; the expectation regarding the rate at which to gain active users, especially paying users; Huya's ability to monetize the user base; Huya's efforts in complying with applicable data privacy and security regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China; the economy in China and elsewhere generally; any regulatory developments in laws, regulations, rules, policies or guidelines applicable to Huya; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Huya's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Huya does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

HUYA Inc.
Investor Relations
Tel: +86-20-2290-7829
E-mail: ir@huya.com 

Piacente Financial Communications
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: huya@tpg-ir.com 

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: huya@tpg-ir.com 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/huya-announces-return-of-e-sports-icon-uzi-underscoring-huyas-growing-appeal-to-top-streamers-302676375.html

SOURCE HUYA Inc.

FAQ

When will Jian "Uzi" Zihao return to Huya (HUYA)?

Uzi will return to Huya commencing with a special live stream scheduled for February 3, 2026. According to the company, the appearance underscores Huya's ability to attract top-tier e-sports talent and aims to engage League of Legends viewers on its platform.

What does Uzi's return mean for Huya (HUYA) as a streaming platform?

Uzi's return signals strengthened appeal to premier streamers and heightened audience interest. According to the company, it reinforces Huya's positioning as a gaming-focused platform with licensed tournaments and creator support that promote sustained streamer–audience engagement.

Will Uzi's content on Huya focus on competitive League of Legends play (HUYA)?

The announcement notes Uzi is a former top-tier League of Legends professional and will stream on Huya beginning February 3, 2026. According to the company, his presence is intended to connect gaming fans with premium, game-focused broadcasts on the platform.

How does Huya (HUYA) differentiate itself for gaming creators compared with generalist platforms?

Huya differentiates by offering specialized support for gaming creators, licensed e-sports tournaments, and self-produced events. According to the company, this ecosystem enables higher-quality broadcasts and sustainable growth for game-related businesses and creators.

Will Uzi’s return likely change Huya’s streamer network recognition (HUYA)?

The company framed Uzi's return as further strengthening recognition of Huya's streamer network across content platforms. According to the company, such returns and visibility aim to expand Huya's appeal among top and rising streamers.