NetEase, Inc. (NTES) reported a slight revenue decline in its fiscal third quarter, but earnings beat analyst expectations. The company’s gaming segment saw a dip, while Youdao and Cloud Music showed growth. NetEase also launched new titles and saw strong performance from existing games like Naraka: Bladepoint and Racing Master. Despite positive financial results, the company faces challenges with regulatory scrutiny and a slumping U.S.-listed Chinese stock market.
NetEase Games, a leading Chinese gaming company, is embroiled in a corruption scandal involving bribery and money laundering. The company has dismissed nine employees and is facing an investigation involving 28 suppliers and an estimated $139.3 million. This is the second major anti-corruption inquiry at NetEase since September 2023.
NetEase Games, a leading Chinese gaming developer, is reportedly closing its Tokyo-based subsidiary, Ouka Studios, known for the game Visions of Mana. The move follows significant staff cuts and aligns with NetEase’s strategic adjustments to navigate changing market conditions in the gaming industry.
NetEase Fragpunk is a free-to-play hero shooter that combines the core gameplay elements of Valorant with a unique card system that adds a layer of strategic depth to each match. Players take on the role of agents with specialized abilities and battle across various maps, trying to secure zones and plant or defuse bombs. The game features an eclectic cast of characters with unique abilities and a variety of cards that create special rules for each round, leading to unpredictable and often hilarious gameplay moments. Fragpunk is currently in development for Xbox and PC and is scheduled for release in 2025.
Marvel Rivals, a superhero shooter developed by NetEase, has recently entered the gaming scene with a familiar Overwatch-like gameplay. While the game has garnered excitement due to its diverse characters and engaging gameplay, the article shares the writer’s experience of feeling overwhelmed and inadequate during their first few rounds. The writer notes the complexity of hero powers, constant quipping, and fast-paced combat as factors that contributed to their initial struggles. Despite these challenges, the writer remains optimistic about the game’s potential and expresses excitement for the inclusion of beloved Marvel characters. However, they acknowledge that they may have to limit themselves to casual play due to the game’s perceived high skill ceiling.
