This undated photo shows Lin Qi, chief executive officer and founder of  Yoozoo Games. (PHOTO/CFP)

The founder and chief executive officer of a Shanghai-based game company passed away on Dec 25 reportedly after being poisoned by his colleague.

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In an announcement on Dec 23, Yoozoo Games said Lin Qi, 39, felt uncomfortable and went to the hospital for treatment. He passed away after treatment failed.

After a police investigation, Lin Qi's colleague Xu was detained on suspicion of involving in the case

Shanghai police said they received a call on Dec 17 and were told that a man surnamed Lin was suspected of being poisoned as he received treatment at a local hospital.

After a police investigation, Lin's colleague Xu was detained on suspicion of involving in the case. Further investigation is underway, according to the police's official Weibo account. Police did not disclose the victim was Lin Qi.

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Later on the same day, the game company released an announcement on its official WeChat account saying that Lin was in hospital for treatment and the police were involved. The company would release relevant information in accordance with the regulation of the stock exchange.

Yoozoo Games was founded in 2009 and also called Youzu Interactive Co. It has launched titles including Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming.

In September, it reached an agreement with Netflix Inc to adapt the science fiction novel The Three-Body Problem into a series.

Yoozoo said the company will continue normal operations and will seek a successor for Lin.

With Bloomberg inputs