Tencent revives QQ Pet with 3D avatars and AI‑enhanced features

On July 27, Tencent announced the return of its QQ Pet virtual‑community game with a major upgrade. The new version offers 3‑D furry characters – the classic penguin plus new dog and "garlic goose" pets – and retains core activities such as feeding, bathing, and work‑related tasks while removing the previous death mechanic. Interactive features let friends' pets spark reactions, and the service now integrates Tencent’s Hy3 large‑model AI, enabling varied personality options and appearance choices that appear across chat windows and lists.

The original QQ Pet launched in June 2005, quickly reaching over 1.5 billion active users and becoming a cultural touchstone for two generations before being discontinued in September 2018. The relaunch aims to revive that legacy on Android and iOS platforms.