A shocking murder case that stunned China’s gaming and entertainment industries has officially come to an end after the execution of former gaming executive Xu Yao for poisoning billionaire entrepreneur Lin Qi.
According to Chinese media reports, Xu was executed on May 21, 2026, after being convicted of murdering Lin in 2020. The execution was later confirmed by Yoozoo Games in a public statement released on Tuesday.
“Justice has ultimately been served,” the company stated while also expressing condolences to Lin’s family.
Lin Qi was the founder of Yoozoo Games, the Shanghai-based gaming company widely known for developing the Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming strategy game. He was also heavily involved in projects connected to the globally famous science fiction trilogy Remembrance of Earth's Past by acclaimed Chinese author Liu Cixin.
The trilogy later inspired 3 Body Problem, which became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows after its release in 2024. Lin received a posthumous executive producer credit for the series.
Investigators revealed that the conflict between Lin and Xu reportedly began after Lin removed Xu from a key leadership role at Three-Body Universe, a Yoozoo subsidiary responsible for managing projects tied to the science fiction franchise.
In 2018, Lin had appointed Xu to lead the subsidiary, but tensions grew when other executives were later assigned control over major business operations. Reports say Xu became resentful and carefully planned revenge.
Authorities said Xu disguised poisonous substances as probiotic pills and gave them to Lin in late 2020. Lin was hospitalized after suddenly becoming ill and died nine days later at just 39 years old.
At the time of his death, Lin was estimated to have a net worth of 6.8 billion yuan, equivalent to roughly $941 million, according to the Hurun China Rich List.
The court described Xu’s actions as “extremely despicable” when convicting him in 2024. Reports also revealed that several other people became ill during Xu’s poisoning scheme.
One victim reportedly reacted to news of the execution by writing online: “Justice comes in the end, even if it’s late.”
The case remains one of the most disturbing corporate murder scandals in modern Chinese business history — a grim mix of ambition, betrayal, entertainment power, and revenge hiding behind the bright lights of gaming and streaming success.
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