BEIJING, May 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- NetEase, Inc.
(NASDAQ: NTES) ("NetEase" or the "Company"), one of China's leading internet and online game
services providers, today announced that it celebrated its
extensive portfolio of existing and upcoming mobile and PC-client
games at the NetEase Third Annual "520 Game Enthusiasts' Day." Held
on May 20, 2017 in Guangzhou, the event featured exciting new
games that the Company expects to introduce in the coming quarters,
and celebrated its flagship games that continue to reach new
heights.
During the event, NetEase showcased more than 30 titles
including 13 never before released mobile games and two new PC
titles that will add to its diverse portfolio. NetEase also
announced the official launch of Qiyu Club, a player membership
platform to provide exclusive rewards and privilege to all NetEase
gamers.
NetEase's decades of leadership in online PC-client games, and
more recently mobile games, have achieved tremendous success, with
core IP continuing to gain favor with massive audiences. During the
event, the Company announced plans to further extend its IP power,
including the Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward
Journey, Ghost and Tianxia franchises,
with exciting themed carnival and competition events, as well as
cartoons, TV shows and movies, to
enrich the content and user engagement. NetEase also launched a
brand new chapter for Onmyoji. With fully upgraded Augmented
Reality (AR) gameplay and thrilling new content, players have
flocked to the game in its initial days of the new chapter's
release to experience the exciting additions first hand.
During the event, the Company also announced it has been
authorized by DW Corporation to utilize its "Dual Sticks" patent.
Leveraging this technology, NetEase plans to broaden its portfolio
and bring players inspiring options in the Multiplayer Online
Battle Arena (MOBA) genre.
"Events such as the Annual Enthusiasts' Day, afford us an
opportunity to honor the ubiquitous nature of online games in
today's digital society," said Mr. William Ding, Chief
Executive Officer and Director of NetEase. "As a leader in the
space, it is our responsibility to continue to innovate and our
portfolio of online games grows stronger and more diverse each
year. Looking ahead we are investing our resources in growing our
presence in relevant genres such as light combat, advanced casual and indie games that address
evolving trends and continue to shape the online world."
In addition to updates to its flagship titles, NetEase announced
a number of new developments that pertain to key upcoming games in
its pipeline. In particular, the world's largest PC server Hypixel
will join the China version for
the highly anticipated launch of Minecraft. NetEase plans to
launch both the PC and mobile versions in July. NetEase is also
achieving early success with Index, a 3D Japanese-style RPG
mobile game, with 100 million pre-registered players achieved and
closed beta testing initiating on May
22. Two more of NetEase's self-developed PC-client titles
War Rage and Open Range are also coming to audiences
soon. Delivering a sneak peak of latest game footage, War
Rage, which has been five years in the making, will begin its
second round of beta testing in June. NetEase also revealed the
latest trailer for Open Range, the MMO based on Wen Runan's
famous Wuxia novel, and announced that it will initiate closed beta
testing on July 21.
Introducing new games and collaborations are imperative to
advancing NetEase's strategy to fortify its portfolio. To augment
and further diversify its pipeline NetEase is exploring new markets
and creative genres like casual, advanced casual, Role Playing
Games (RPG), Simulation Games (SLG) and Asymmetrical Battle Arena
(ABA).
To bolster its growing portfolio, NetEase plans to introduce a
number of new titles, unveiling exciting games at the event
including self-developed Forever 7, a thrilling RPG based on
urban legend featuring multiple storylines and battle heroes in
real-time creating a powerful gaming experience. NetEase will also
bring players HAN-GYAKU-SEI Million Arthur, the third
installment of the Million Arthur series, a traditional Japanese
mobile game jointly developed by NetEase and Square Enix with
celluloid-style CG animation. The game unfolds a whole new world of
Britain like never before to its
legion of fans. Further diversifying its offering, NetEase
announced that it also plans to introduce its very first game in
the ABA genre. Set in the Victorian era, Identity 5 begins
with an anonymous invitation to a deserted manor, where players
quickly become the brave detective as a gothic, suspenseful horror
story unfolds.
Licensed games continue to play an instrumental role in
NetEase's growth strategy. In addition to games like
Minecraft, NetEase revealed it will release a handful of new
exciting licensed games such as Shadowverse, an original
Japanese fantasy-themed Collectible Card Game (CCG) developed by
Cygames. The game features various strategies, a unique evolution
system and highly competitive play-styles with gorgeous anime-style
card art and hundreds of super voice actors and actresses. NetEase
will also bring Chinese players HATSUNE
MIKU, Roller Skating Music, a casual
Japanese style mobile game whose main character is one of the most
popular idols in the world of ACG, as well as Zynga's epic mobile
strategy game, Dawn of Titans.
The Enthusiasts' Day audience was also introduced to other
upcoming self-developed and licensed games in NetEase's pipeline
including:
- Bombing.io: a multi-player online casual game where
players are fight pilots.
- Legend of Three Kingdoms: a next-generation 3D MMO
fantasy game produced by the former development team of Fantasy
Westward Journey.
- The War: a 3D mobile battle game that takes place among
the Warring States Period in a cinematic world where you can be a
real hero.
- Xuanyuan Sword of NetEase: a Chinese-style 3D mobile
game leveraging the IP of two classics - NetEase's Xuanyuan
Sword 3 and Softstar Entertainment Inc.'s Scar of the
Sky.
- The Trail: 22cans' award-winning indie game that allows
gamers to live the life of a pioneer with amazing vistas and a
stirring soundtrack.
- The Kingdoms: a licensed mobile SLG that combines the
classic strategies of war and ultra-high degree of freedom.
- Stylish Basketball: the first mobile basketball game
presented by NetEase, featuring 3V3 dual meet, tournament, solo and
other various types of game play (licensed).
About NetEase, Inc.
NetEase,Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES) is a leading internet technology
company in China. Dedicated to
providing online services centered around content, community,
communication and commerce, NetEase develops and operates some of
China's most popular PC-client and
mobile games, advertising services, e-mail services and e-commerce
platforms. In partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, Mojang AB (a
Microsoft subsidiary) and other global game developers, NetEase
also operates some of the most popular international online games
in China. For more
information, please visit: http://ir.netease.com/.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains statements of a forward-looking
nature. These statements are made under the "safe harbor"
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by
terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future,"
"intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements.
The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of
business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including
risks related to: the risk that the share repurchase program will
not increase shareholder value; and other risks outlined in
NetEase's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
NetEase does not undertake any obligation to update this
forward-looking information, except as required under applicable
law.
Contact for Media and Investors:
Juliet Yang
NetEase, Inc.
hzyangyy@corp.netease.com
Tel: (+86) 571-8985-3378
Brandi Piacente
Investor Relations
brandi@corp.netease.com
Tel: (+1) 212-481-2050
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SOURCE NetEase, Inc.