NetEase working on multiple fronts to gain gaming market share

Source: NetEase website.

NetEase (网易), one of China's major Internet and online game services providers, has announced plans to introduce new PC and mobile games. The announcement was made at NetEase's inaugural 5/20 Game Enthusiasts' Day, held on May 20 in Beijing, China.

A key component of NetEase's mobile game strategy is a focus on mobile games based on the company's self-developed franchises, such as Fantasy Westward Journey (梦幻西游) and Tianxia. Since its launch in late March of this year, the Fantasy Westward Journey mobile game has gained the no. 1 top grossing app spot in the iOS China app store and recently reached a new record peak concurrent user count of 2 million.

Building further on this success, NetEase announced that it is developing Fantasy Westward Journey: Warriors, a mobile action adventure game, and The X-World, an action-packed mobile adventure role playing game (ARPG) from the Tianxia universe. NetEase also plans to introduce original mobile games such as a cartoon-style side-scrolling mobile game called Fairy Tales: The World of the Brave and a history-themed mobile game called 100 Heroes.

The company shared that licensed mobile games are in the works, including the 3D RPG Kai-ri-sei Million Arthur from SQUARE ENIX and 3D multiplayer ARPG Chronoblade from US-based nWay. NetEase also intends to bring back the Richman franchise with Richman 9 in partnership with Softstar Entertainment. The company also revealed plans to develop mobile titles based on famous works from other media, such as Kung Fu Panda, to be developed in a strategic partnership with Oriental DreamWorks; Warner Brothers' Tom and Jerry, Chinese writer Jingming Guo's Tiny Times novels, and Gu Long's series of martial arts novels.

Open beta testing of Hegemon-King of Western Chu has begun, the company added, while new PC games under development, such as 3D action MOBA Wildfire and real-time battle action The War, were showcased. NetEase also declared its intention to publish free, online manga and anime based on its existing PC game franchises.

"The game industry in China is thriving, and our strategy to introduce new best-in-class and diverse mobile and PC games continues to delight our growing community of players. By establishing May 20 as Game Enthusiasts' Day, we are providing a forum for celebrating gamers, and we expect this annual conference to become one of the most influential events in China's gaming industry," said William Ding, Chief Executive Officer and Director of NetEase.

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