NetEase is the second largest games company in China, but its overseas titles also include mobile successes such as Knives Out, Rules of Survival, and Identity V. In the past couple of years, we have also seen an increase in anime-style games from NetEase, including Onmyoji and Super Mecha Champions. Recently, the gaming juggernaut announced it is setting up its first studio in Tokyo, Japan roughly translated to Sakura Studio. One would think that Sakura Studio is created to make more mobile games, but it is a console studio.
By console, we do mean PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch (and definitely next gen systems). NetEase is now aiming to make a mark in the console gaming market, and is actively recruiting for the new Sakura Studio. The first game will be made using Unreal Engine, though the actual genre was not stated in the job recruitment posts. Rival Tencent is also actively expanding its overseas presence. Stay tuned for more industry news soon!
