According to reports, numerous netease studies, including Quantic Dream, Nagoshi Studio and Grasshopper, run the risk of closure after the Chinese editor decided to disable its international operations.
Previously known for its popular PCs and mobile games, Netease has expanded significantly in recent years, acquiring and establishing industry veterans studies in Japan, North America and Europe. However, as the games industry continues to support turbulent times, there have been signs that, in recent months, it could be reducing its ambitions.
Last month, it was confirmed that Netease had separated from Worlds Untold, based in Vancouver, the study that he founded with Mass Effect Mac Walters writer in 2023, as well as Jar of Sparks, based in Seattle, the study founded on 2022 by Xbox veteran Jerry Hook.
Then, earlier this week, it was confirmed that Netease had fired US developers behind Marvel’s rivals, including its director, despite the game enjoying a greatly successful release.
A Netease spokesman denied VentureBeat that these cuts were part of a wide scale of its development of international games. However, now the sources of game archives claim that the editor is reducing significantly and is actively buying in his non -Chinese studies.
One of game File’s sources states that Netease plans to get rid of most teams abroad, which could lead to the closing of more than a dozen games studies, if they cannot obtain new funds.
That could include Japan headquarters from a Dragon designer Toshihiro Nagoshi, and the resident producer of evil Hiroyuki Kobayashi, as well as the manufacture of Suda 51 grasshopos 51. Net Aoki and the producer of the Blazblue Toshimichi Mori series, and He launched Pincool, a new study led by Dragon Quest 8 and 9 Ryutaro Ichimura producer.
In the West, Netease has Detroit Studio Quantic Dream, and the new studies of Call of Duty David Vonderhaar, main control designer, and more, and has invested in Build a Rocket Boy by Leslie Benzies.
A netease spokesman declined to comment on the game file in the alleged cuts, but said that “all studies and projects are in constant revision and evaluation, and netease will determine that the changes must be made throughout that process.”
According to a previous Bloomberg report, Notease Studios in Japan, including Nagoshi Studios, “have been given time to conclude continuous projects” but do not receive more funds.
VGC visited the manufacture of Nagoshi Studio and Grasshopper in 2023, when both developers expressed their belief that they had gained creative freedom of their agreements with Netease.
“The general environment [in this country] It means that it is difficult to try new things in Japan, but netease is very ambitious and wants to expand your business by being successful worldwide and including the console game category, which is aligned with our ambition, “Nagoshi told VGC.
Netase study list
- Montreal netease (Look at the dogs to the creator Jonathan Morin)
- Dream Quantic (Strong rain / Detroit)
- MANUFACTURE OF RETAMONDS (Suda51)
- Nagoshi Studio (Toshihiro Nagoshi)
- Prick (Dragon Quest 8 and 9 producer Ryutaro Ichimura)
- Study Bengal (Producer Blazblue Toshimichi Mori)
- GPTRACK50 (Resident Evil 4 producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi)
- Jackalyptic games (City of Heroes / DC Universe Head Online Jack Emmert)
- T-mino Zero Entertainment (Star Wars: The former producer of the Republic Rich Vogel)
- Bad Brain games (Look dogs: Legion / driver: San Francisco producer Sean Crook)
- Anchor Point studies (Main control designer Paul Ehreth)
- Skybox Labs (Halo support, Age of Empires & Minecraft)
- Spliced (Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty Alumni)
- Fantastic Pixel Castle (Remote study)
- Liquid swords (Avalanche Studios co -founder)
- Rebel wolves (Witcher veterans)
Earlier this week, Netease announced that its net income of games and related services were RMB21.2 billion (US $ 2.9 billion) for the three months that ended on December 31, an increase of 1.5% compared to the same quarter of 2023.
The company’s complete statement regarding the history of the game file continues:
The company continues to invest in our global business and actively recruits and fosters talent. At the same time, changes in the organizational structure aimed at improving performance are a necessary part of our continuous growth.
Notease Games has a clear understanding of our development and strength areas. Many of our strategic decisions are firmly based on these central areas. Since the launch of Westward Journey Online in 2001, Netease has accumulated more than 20 years of experience in the development and operation of online service games. The success of Marvel’s rivals further affirms the value of this experience.
At the same time, we recognize that we are still in the early stages of exploring the development and game operations for a player. This makes us more cautious when evaluating these products and evaluating the associated risks and opportunities, particularly in the current and highly competitive environment.
[CEO] Mr. Ding declared in the recent earning calls that Notease is committed to supporting high quality studies and creators. That is the company’s strategy, and there are no changes in this plan. For any worldwide study, it corresponds to us as a responsible commercial business frequently evaluate the progress, viability and success of our products and equipment.
