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You can pay gamers in China to play PUBG with you

China’s biggest shopping app Taobao now offers “game companions”

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Price for a 30-minute gaming session varies from 10 to 25 virtual Bixin coins, about US$2 to $5. (Picture: Bixin app)
This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Miui, a 21-year-old college graduate, charges 50 virtual coins an hour -- about US$10 -- to play online games with strangers. On busy days she can earn about 1,000 yuan (US$144) a day.

“Game companions” are gaining popularity in China, with more than a dozen apps offering the service. NetEase has its own platform named Heizhu Esports, and Taobao, China’s biggest shopping platform, has just been spotted with its own line of game companions. 

The Taobao shops that offer game companion services aren't new, but they now have a “Taobao game companion” label slapped on them. We asked Alibaba for more details and will update if we hear back.

(Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba, an owner of Taobao.)

One of the most popular game companion apps is Bixin, which means a "hand heart" gesture in Chinese. You send out an order for the games you want to play and when you want to play them, and interested game companions will respond. Or you can select the game you want to play first, and talk to a list of companions available for that game.
Price for a 30-minute gaming session varies from 10 to 25 virtual Bixin coins, about US$2 to $5. (Picture: Bixin app)
Price for a 30-minute gaming session varies from 10 to 25 virtual Bixin coins, about US$2 to $5. (Picture: Bixin app)
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