Chinese authorities executed Xu Yao on May 21, 2026, following his conviction for the murder of Lin Qi, the billionaire founder of Yoozoo Games [1]. Xu was sentenced to death in 2024 after being found guilty of poisoning Lin Qi with toxic substances disguised as probiotic pills [1, 2].
Lin Qi, aged 39 at his death, was a prominent figure in the gaming industry as founder of Shanghai-based Yoozoo Games, which developed titles such as Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming [1, 2]. He also served as an executive producer on the Netflix adaptation of the 3 Body Problem released in 2024 [1, 2].
The poisoning incident occurred after Xu, who had been appointed by Lin to manage the Three-Body Universe subsidiary overseeing 3 Body Problem projects, fell out with him over management roles and was eventually sidelined [1, 2]. Lin fell ill in December 2020, was hospitalized, and died nine days later [1, 2]. His estimated net worth at the time was about 6.8 billion yuan (£745 million; $941 million) [1].
Xu’s poisoning also affected Lin’s wife and several others, though his wife survived the attack [2]. Yoozoo Games expressed deep sorrow over Lin’s death, stating, "We deeply mourn Mr. Lin and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. As colleagues who fought alongside him, all members of the company are grateful for the impartiality of the judicial process... Justice has ultimately been served" [2].
Netflix’s 3 Body Problem series became one of the platform’s most-watched shows in 2024 and has seasons 2 and 3 planned for release, maintaining Lin’s legacy in entertainment alongside gaming [1, 2].
