Crazy news everyday!
NetEase announced on Friday that they have now acquired Canadian gaming studio, SkyBox Labs. SkyBox co-develops some major titles including Halo Infinite and Minecraft. The way I hear it, SkyBox will still operate independently, just under NetEase’s umbrella. Neither company disclosed the financial situation (which I mean… I wouldn’t tell the whole world about how my money moves either).
NetEase has really pushed the limits on its international expansion efforts in gaming. The last two years have been pretty tough for China, as their rival Tencent has been more successful in picking up gaming studios in the past. China’s aggressive push has really pushed them forward. They purchased game dev Quantic Dream (French, ooh la la) last year, establishing it’s first fully owned studio in Europe. NetEase has also set up studios in Japan and the United States. They are smart in the sense that they have been focused on investing in or acquiring companies that have strong franchises and brands. In fact, they have already released mobile games based on the Harry Potter and LOTR franchises.
The company has said that they support SkyBox Labs with “resources and execution capabilities so that [they] can achieve faster scale while maintaining quality of work the studio is known for.” NetEase has typically focused on PC and mobile games, but they have set their intentions on becoming a contender in the console gaming market as well. SkyBox is big in that area, crafting what looks like a big win for both sides (we hope). NetEase says SkyBox Labs “will continue to operate independently, working closely with existing and new partners to pursue creative opportunities and co-develop titles in the PC and console space.”
Sink Your Teeth Into The Game,
ShadowXxFang, Lead Writer
Subscribe to keep up with the latest gaming news! Getting it to you before you can read it anywhere else.