NetEase reportedly paid roughly $106 million (100 million euros) for French developer Quantic Dream, experiences Technode.
The acquisition final yr made Quantic Dream the primary European studio owned by NetEase. The studio is finest recognized for its narrative-driven titles similar to Heavy Rain and Detroit: Grow to be Human. These titles helped solidify a development of branching, interactive storylines inside the video games business, and have earned the Quantic Dream important renown, partly for his or her inclusion of Hollywood heavyweights similar to Elliot Web page, Willem Dafoe, and Lance Henriksen. The corporate is presently engaged on an motion journey recreation set within the Star Wars universe, entitled Star Wars Eclipse.
Notably, the acquisition marked a major transfer for NetEase, which is primarily recognized for its work within the cellular house. Though Quantic Dream included cellular interactivity in its recreation Past: Two Souls, the corporate has but to create a recreation for cellular platforms.
On the time of the acquisition, particulars concerning the monetary settlement have been undisclosed. Nevertheless, Chinese language information portal experiences that sources have privately disclosed the 100 million euros determine based mostly on their private share earnings from the sale.
NetEase is diversifying
Though cellular gaming stays essentially the most worthwhile sector of the video games business, an increasing number of firms are increasing into the console and PC areas in an try and develop their income streams. A determine of $106 million would nonetheless signify a major funding on NetEase’s half, and rising confidence in its means to generate important income within the console house.
Notably, Chinese language recreation makers are more and more spreading in a foreign country, partly resulting from strict rules on playtime and restrictions on video games licensing. Many firms are additionally making an attempt to disguise their origins to keep away from any backlash resulting from being Chinese language firms. Acquisitions of established firms can provide this chance, permitting acquirers to depend on the success of present manufacturers.
We listed NetEase as the highest cellular recreation maker of 2022.