2K Sports today announced its partnership with Tencent Holdings Limited (SEHK: 700) to co-develop the online version of NBA 2K and distribute it to China and other key markets.  2K Sports has secured a multi-year license to develop the online simulation game, which will include all of the NBA teams, as well as current and retired NBA players.

Tencent is an integrated Internet services company that serves the largest and most active online community in China, which measured 411 million active user accounts and 58 million peak concurrent user accounts (PCU) as of the end of March 2009.  Leveraging its huge instant messaging user base, Tencent launched its game portal, QQ Game, in August 2004 and is today the largest online game platform in China.  The company is a leading game developer and operator that is committed to delivering an interactive and fun game experience through a diversified portfolio of products to game players in China.  Tencent currently operates 67 mini casual games, 5 advanced casual games and 5 massive multi-player online games (MMOGs) on its game platform.  It is the first and only game operator in China to have two games reach the 1-million PCU milestone.