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The Chinese billionaire CEO of video game developer Yoozoo Group died on Christmas Day following a suspected colleague's alleged poisoning plot.

Lin Qi died at the age of 39, according to Shanghai police. Lin's company, Yoozoo, is best known for its “Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming” game.

Before his death, Lin was attached to an upcoming, high-profile Netflix project. Lin'z Yoozoo Group had purchased the rights to the Chinese sci-fi trilogy “The Three Body Problem” in 2015. Netflix announced in September it would adapt the internationally bestselling books into an English series with “Game of Thrones” creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Television writer Alexander Woo was also set to write and produce the series, according to 

. Lin was also involved as executive producer on the project.

Lin became sick last week and was hospitalized on Dec. 16, reportedly barely able to walk and with symptoms of "acute illness." He was immediately brought to the ICU for treatment, where he had to be resuscitated after his heart stopped, according to local reports.

 a man was detained for the alleged poisoning of Lin. Police referred to both men by their surnames, but media reports said the detained suspect was Lin's colleague,  Xu Yao. 

Xu was a senior executive for Yoozoo's film and television division. Alleged infighting at the company may be the motive behind the attack on Lin, according to reports. Those reports suggested that Lin may have been poisoned by a tainted cup of pu'er, a fermented tea.

When Yoozoo purchased the film rights to develop “The Three Body Problem” series in 2015, plans to develop the movie under its own production team were fraught with problems.

That included senior personnel changes throughout the production and difficulties on set, according to 

 Eventually, the company gave up on the endeavor and sold the rights for the film to Netflix as well as the video game production for the trilogy to a Chinese company.  

Crime, Law and Justice

Jaclyn Diaz

Author

Yoozoo Group CEO Lin Qi, 39, was also executive producer for an upcoming Netflix series. Reports suggest he may have been poisoned by a colleague. 

Chinese video game tycoon, Netflix producer, dead after alleged poisoning

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