NetEase, Inc.
NetEase, Inc. business and news from across the web.
There's one game Don't Nod narrative designer Nina Freeman won't ever uninstall from her PC, because it's banned on Steam: 'It's tragic, because everyone should play this game'Narrative designer Nina Freeman discusses her PC gaming habits, highlighting Devotion as a game she will never uninstall due to its quality and controversial Steam ban. She also shares her most played game, Dota 2, and her appreciation for complex branching narratives in titles like Scarlet Hollow.- Business and FinancePlaystack, the owner of Balatro, has been sold to the parent company of Fandom and GameSpot. Separately, NetEase reported a 6.9% increase in games revenue for Q1, reaching $3.7 billion.
NetEase reports 6.9% increase in games revenue to $3.7bn during Q1NetEase reported a 6.9% increase in gaming revenue for the first quarter, reaching $3.7 billion. The company's overall revenue also saw a 6.1% rise to $4.4 billion, driven primarily by online game operations and sales from self-developed titles. NetEase highlighted successful global launches and ongoing innovation as key to its strategy.
Victims of cheaters in Marvel Rivals will be refunded all the ranked points they lost if they report them thanks to NetEase's new Anti-Cheat Rank Compensation SystemNetEase is implementing a new Anti-Cheat Rank Compensation System for Marvel Rivals to refund players who report verified cheaters. This system aims to mitigate the negative impact of cheating on the ranked play experience. While a temporary measure, the article suggests more permanent solutions like hardware or IP bans are needed to deter cheaters effectively.
Marvel Rivals has banned 485 accounts and dished out just 3 hardware bans after the latest slew of cheaters but players…Marvel Rivals developer NetEase has banned 485 accounts and issued three hardware bans following a surge in cheaters after a recent update. The company stated that its anti-cheat systems are continuously updated to combat unauthorized third-party enhancements and that account bans are a targeted crackdown on newly updated cheats.
Hundreds of Marvel Rivals cheats named and shamed in "an immediate, targeted purge"NetEase has banned nearly 500 Marvel Rivals players for using unauthorized third-party enhancements following a recent game update. The company shared the names, user IDs, and ranks of the banned players as part of a "targeted purge" and emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for cheating. Players who believe they were unjustly penalized can submit an appeal.
Marvel Rivals bans hundreds of cheaters after weekend spike in nefarious nonsenseNetEase has permanently banned 485 accounts and three devices in Marvel Rivals following a spike in cheating after a May 21 update. The publisher confirmed the bans were for using third-party enhancements, illicit assist programs, or client tampering. NetEase also addressed rumors about its anti-cheat system being bypassable, stating that the claims are false.
Tomoland Raises $2M to Expand Mobile-First UGC Platform With Crypto.Tomoland has secured $2 million in a funding round led by Sky9 Capital to expand its mobile-first user-generated content (UGC) platform with Web3 integration. The company, built on BUD World technology and featuring veterans from Tencent and NetEase, aims to enable creators to own and monetize their digital assets through an on-chain framework. This funding will support the integration of Web2 scale with Web3 ownership for content, gameplay, and AI tools, following a successful NFT sale of its Blueprint Founder Pass.
Gang of Dragon studio Nagoshi Studios has apparently shut downNagoshi Studios, founded by Yakuza series creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, has reportedly shut down after its debut title, Gang of Dragon, failed to secure further investment. NetEase withdrew funding for the game, citing a need for an additional $44 million to complete development. Official social media and YouTube channels for Gang of Dragon have been inactive or deleted, and the studio's physical location is marked as permanently closed.
"People want MMOs, and the sales of New World proved it" – Cryptic Studios head Jack Emmert on why MMOs are ripe for reinventionCryptic Studios CEO Jack Emmert believes the MMORPG market is still strong, citing the sales of New World as proof, despite recent cancellations. He argues that successful MMOs should focus on a distinct vision and niche audience rather than trying to appeal to everyone, which often leads to diluted experiences. Emmert also emphasizes the importance of rapid prototyping and controlled scope for long-term success in the genre.
Quantic Dream Layoffs Hitting Up to 95 Jobs Following Game ClosureQuantic Dream is reportedly laying off up to 95 employees in France following the closure of its MOBA-like game, Spellcasters Chronicles. The French video game union STJV blames management and NetEase for the game's failure and the subsequent job losses, demanding that layoffs be halted and the Spellcasters team be reassigned.
Quantic Dream cutting jobs after scrapping Spellcasters ChroniclesQuantic Dream has canceled the development of its free-to-play strategy title Spellcasters Chronicles due to a lack of audience and is initiating layoffs. The studio stated that the cancellation will not impact the development of Star Wars Eclipse. A French labor union claims up to 95 jobs are at risk and criticizes the project's management.
Spellcasters Chronicles Took 8 Years to Make, Quantic Dream Could Layoff Up to 95 Employees – RumorQuantic Dream has reportedly cancelled its multiplayer title Spellcasters Chronicles, which took eight years to develop, and is rumored to be laying off up to 95 employees. A workers' union criticized the company's poor planning and management, citing overconfidence and a lack of consideration for potential failure. The union also called for the reassignment of the Spellcasters Chronicles team to Star Wars Eclipse and for management to resign.- Star Wars Eclipse Development “Continues” As Studio Cancels MOBA Months After LaunchQuantic Dream is shutting down its live-service game Spellcasters Chronicles, which launched in February, due to market challenges. The studio confirmed that development on Star Wars Eclipse is unaffected and continues as planned. The company also mentioned an internal reorganization but did not specify if layoffs would occur.
This indie dev's dungeon crawling 'descent into madness' was inspired by motherly loveIndie developer Christopher Yabsley is creating Heathen, a dark fantasy dungeon crawler inspired by a cherished childhood memory of playing Diablo with his mother. The game will feature first-person combat, randomized loot, and online co-op, with an early access release planned for Steam.
Quantic Dream Shutting Down Title Spellcasters ChroniclesQuantic Dream is shutting down its live service MOBA, Spellcasters Chronicles, due to a lack of audience, with servers going offline on June 19th. The studio, acquired by NetEase in 2025, will refocus on other projects, including the narrative Star Wars game Star Wars Eclipse, though layoffs are anticipated. Players who made in-game purchases can request refunds.
Star Wars Eclipse Development "Continues" As Studio Cancels MOBA Months After LaunchQuantic Dream is shutting down its live-service game Spellcasters Chronicles on June 19, offering refunds to players. The studio confirmed that development on Star Wars Eclipse continues as planned, despite previous reports casting doubt on its status. The shutdown of Spellcasters Chronicles is attributed to a challenging market environment, and the company is undergoing an internal reorganization.- Casually Classic: Should Blizzard roll out WoW Classic’s Titan Reforged ruleset to the west?This opinion piece discusses Blizzard Entertainment's China-only "Titan Reforged" World of Warcraft Classic server ruleset, which bundles the base game and first two expansions with Wrath of the Lich King class builds and scaled raid content. The author questions whether this "raid rush" MMO experience, which proved popular in China, should be brought to western audiences, ultimately concluding it would dilute the community and compete with the upcoming "Classic Plus" offering.
Marvel Rivals test players make historic discovery: Devil Dinosaur is too big to fit in the flarkin' mapsPlayers in the Marvel Rivals test server have discovered that the character Devil Dinosaur is too large to fit through certain areas of the game's maps. This has led to discussions among players about the character's hitbox and potential balance issues, while others find the situation humorous given the character's size.
Gang of Dragon Studio Website Goes OfflineThe official website for Nagoshi Studio's Gang of Dragon has gone offline, following the removal of the studio's YouTube channel and reports that NetEase has ceased funding. This raises concerns about the game's potential cancellation or hiatus as the studio seeks new financial backing. NetEase reportedly cut funding due to increasing development costs and the studio's failure to ship a title, but has allowed development to continue while Nagoshi Studio looks for alternative funding.