As the HarmonyOS NEXT system has been officially released, the next step is to actually use it on devices and experience it firsthand. Previously, only a limited number of users had access to it during the testing phase. Now that it is about to be officially commercialized, the number of upgradable devices will increase significantly, and some issues that cannot be ignored are gradually attracting attention, such as the gaming system experience. Today, I will provide a more detailed analysis in the hope that it will be helpful for you to play games on the HarmonyOS NEXT system in the future.

Let's set aside the specific game performance for now, as it is heavily dependent on the game developer's compatibility. Today, I mainly want to discuss the game account system under the HarmonyOS NEXT system. Firstly, the system supports multiple account logins within the same game client. This means that in addition to Huawei accounts, other third-party accounts can also be used to log in to game clients downloaded from the Huawei AppGallery. Personally, I understand that this should include accounts registered directly on the game's official website as well as QQ and WeChat logins.

As a new system, HarmonyOS NEXT considers any game installation and first login as a fresh start, without any pre-existing game data. Therefore, the inheritance of game data becomes crucial. According to user feedback, the HarmonyOS game login page displays options that address users' concerns. Huawei has considered this, with the "Transfer" option allowing players to migrate their game progress from their original Huawei account to the new system, while "Create/Link" is for creating a new game account.

The question arises: what if a player has been using a third-party account rather than a Huawei account to log in to a game? Can their game data still be transferred and inherited? According to official explanations, using an official account allows for the inheritance of existing game data. However, it is unclear whether data can be inherited if the player has used a login method other than Huawei's or the game's official account. If not, the player may have to start over.

Furthermore, some games have created dedicated "HarmonyOS Zones" within the HarmonyOS NEXT system. It is evident that these zones are not interoperable with the game's official servers in terms of data. Choosing a "HarmonyOS Zone" means starting from scratch with all game data and progress, and in-game purchases cannot be inherited, although they will not be lost. For players who are dissatisfied with their previous progress, the "HarmonyOS Zone" can be a fresh start. Currently, only some games offer this option.

Another scenario is that some games offer a "HarmonyOS Experience Version," which does not support the inheritance of game data. In most cases, players will only have access to the "HarmonyOS Zone" after entering the game. For unplayed games, this can be a viable option. However, for games currently being played, caution is advised. Additionally, some games in the HarmonyOS system are still in beta testing with data deletion, so players should be aware of this when playing.

If you are a Huawei device user, would you choose to enter the "HarmonyOS Zone" when playing games in the future?