https://ift.tt/mIjYBV1 NetEase – the mobile gaming superpower behind Dead by Daylight Mobile, Marvel Super War, EVE Echoes, and a vast libra...
NetEase – the mobile gaming superpower behind Dead by Daylight Mobile, Marvel Super War, EVE Echoes, and a vast library of mobile hits – has further cemented its status as a global force with the acquisition of brand new studio Spliced Inc.
While gaming is a global business, there have always been regional variations. Cultural differences and local gameplay preferences have ensured that certain games appear in certain territories and not in others.
Undeterred by these apparent constraints from the get go, NetEase made its name bringing Western games like Mojang’s Minecraft to the Chinese market. That means it knows all about the challenges of navigating regional tastes in gameplay styles and game design principles.
After successfully bringing several Western games to the Chinese market, NetEase found further success publishing self-developed titles abroad. Games like Knives Out, Identity V, and LifeAfter all achieved huge popularity in Japan and beyond.
These are basically the two pillars of NetEase’s strategy as it continues to grow and serve the global gaming community. On one hand, it will keep building on the commercial potential of its homegrown titles. On the other, it will continue to make investments and forge partnerships with overseas studios.
“At NetEase, we are passionate about games,” writes Xiaojun Hui, Executive Vice-President of NetEase & Co-President of NetEase Games, “and this is how we feel we can do our best for the world’s gamers.”
He continues. “We not only offer games that are proven successful in Asia, but we also are empowering games creators in Japan, Europe and North America to do what they love, and create games that have either universal appeal or else have themes and mechanics that Western gamers appreciate.”
We can see this two-fold approach at work in the company’s activities over the last few years.
For example, the success of NetEase’s approach in bringing homegrown titles to a global audience is evident in Naraka: Bladepoint, the studio’s first foray into home consoles. This acclaimed 60-player action-adventure battle royale arrived on PC in 2021 and Xbox Series X/S the following year.
Similarly, NetEase debuted Where Winds Meet to widespread acclaim at Gamescom 2022. Developed in China, this visually impressive MMORPG is set during the Ten Kingdoms period of China’s history. Where Winds Meet made an impact at this globally important games showcase thanks to its unique setting, AAA credentials, and the contrast it offered with the gloomy dystopian games being announced in the same window by many Western studios.
On the other side of the equation, NetEase has acquired studios in regions all around the world.
Its Japanese acquisitions include Grasshopper Manufacture (with legendary developer Suda51), Nagoshi Studio (with equally legendary developer Toshihiro Nagoshi), and GPTRACK50 (with renowned ex-Capcom producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi).
In May 2022, meanwhile, NetEase announced the acquisition of its first US studio. Jackalope Games is led by Jack Emmert – an MMORPG veteran whose credits include City of Heroes, NeverWinter, Star Trek Online, and DC Universe Online. Then, in July 2022, NetEase launched Jar of Sparks, a brand new studio headed by Jerry Hook, who worked on Halo Infinite.
In August last year, NetEase announced its acquisition of Parisian studio Quantic Dream (Heavy Rain, Beyond Two Souls, Detroit: Become Human), and as recently as this month it unveiled Spliced Inc, a UK and US based studio whose veteran team has collectively worked on Grand Theft Auto, The Sims, Call of Duty, and a host of other globally significant projects.
Xiaojun Hui again. “Over the past 20 years, NetEase Games has accumulated a lot of experience in research and development, and the company is actively working with overseas producers to develop games that users around the world will enjoy. Currently, many products are under development, and we believe they will be fruitful soon. Our aspiration is that overseas markets will eventually account for 40 to 50 percent of our revenue.”
NetEase has already built an impressive portfolio of first-party overseas studios, and it attributes its success so far to a policy of recruiting the most talented and experienced game developers in the world and giving them sufficient autonomy and resources to create the next generation of gaming experiences.
Crucially, it has no intention of slowing down, continuing to extend an open invitation to “brilliant creators all around the world.”
“As a developer itself,” writes Xiaojun Hui, “NetEase Games always prioritizes the self-expression of creators and the needs of gamers and fully respects creative freedom. We believe we achieve this through three key aspects: We allow creators to make games in the theme and gameplay style about which they are most passionate; We offer creators full authority to manage their own teams; and we remove the stress from creators by providing funding, technology, resources, and other support, and organizing communication and sharing sessions among top creators around the world, so they can inspire each other and fully realize their creative potential.”
The post How NetEase Games Empowers Global Game Creators appeared first on Gamezebo.
from Gamezebo https://ift.tt/BhNfxkb
No comments
Give your review in right manner and don't use appropriate words.