Update: NetEase said GameIndustry.biz that no personnel have been fired, but rather transferred to other departments.
The publisher also clarified that Operation Apocalypse is not a revamped Hyper Front, but rather a separate game that launched in February of this year and closed in October.
We have reached out for further clarification.
original story: NetEase has reportedly laid off an undisclosed number of staff as a result of the poor performance of mobile title Hyper Front (aka Operation Apocalypse) in China.
This is according to several Chinese publications and sources close to the company, as reported by the South China Morning Post, and the layoffs reportedly affected staff at NetEase’s Shenzhen office.
Operation Apocalypse launched in China on August 30, and NetEase reportedly announced last month that the project was being shut down because it did not meet its expectations.
The number of layoffs is unclear, but sources said it did not represent many employees.
Operation Apocalypse is one of four games that NetEase announced it would be discontinuing in mainland China, also including the local version of Pokémon Quest.
Hyper Front was previously the subject of a lawsuit from Riot for allegedly copying Valorant, and the game was subsequently shut down. The title was then re-released with revamped visuals and the new name in China.
GameIndustry.biz reached out to NetEase for comment and clarification, but the company did not respond to us in time for publication.
NetEase-owned studio Worlds Untold announced last week that it would be suspending operations as it launches in 2023.
NetEase also reportedly closed Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studios earlier this year, with director Ryosuke Yoshida announcing yesterday that he had resigned to join Square Enix.
