NetEase Games

NetEase Games is the video game division of NetEase Inc., a Chinese technology company founded in 1997 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China. NetEase Games is one of the largest game companies in the world by revenue, operating primarily in China but with a growing international presence through its own titles and a significant portfolio of investments and acquisitions in global game studios. They are best known internationally for Marvel Rivals, the 6v6 hero shooter released in December 2024 that became one of the most played games on Steam within days of launch.

NetEase Games Key Titles

Marvel Rivals (2024)

Marvel Rivals is a 6v6 hero shooter featuring Marvel Comics characters developed by NetEase Games and published in partnership with Marvel Games. Released December 6, 2024, it reached over 20 million players in its first week and peaked at over 480,000 concurrent players on Steam. The game operates on a free-to-play battle pass model and updates quarterly with new seasons and characters.

Minecraft China Edition

NetEase operates the official version of Minecraft in China under license from Microsoft, making them the publisher for one of the most played games in the world’s largest gaming market.

The Investment Portfolio

NetEase has invested in or acquired studios across North America and Europe including Quantic Dream, Grasshopper Manufacture, Orbital Knight, Jar of Sparks, Worlds Untold, Nagoshi Studio, Liquid Crimson, and others. The strategy mirrors Tencent’s approach of acquiring stakes in globally recognized developers while building international IP. Whether the studio investments translate into meaningful creative output will determine if NetEase becomes a genuinely significant player in the Western games market or remains primarily a Chinese platform operator with minority stakes elsewhere.