For Blizzard and Bungie, the Chinese gaming company NetEase has been an important partner. Both studios have released mobile variations of their major game series Diablo and Destiny in collaboration with NetEase. Among the gaming giant’s own games that have also been successful in the West is Once Human (Steam, Mobile). However, 9 employees of the corporation have now been arrested, including two top executives.
For which games is NetEase known?
Here in the West, we primarily know one game from NetEase: the survival game Once Human. Revelation Online, an MMORPG, was also theirs.
NetEase was Blizzard’s partner in China for many years and distributed their games there. In close collaboration with Blizzard, they developed Diablo Immortal.
Bungie has also made a deal with NetEase – from the partnership established 6 years ago, Destiny: Rising eventually emerged.
NetEase is the second largest gaming corporation in China after Tencent:
2 Top Managers from NetEase Are Arrested and Then Fired
This is what is happening at NetEase: According to reports, 9 employees have been arrested at NetEase, accused of money laundering and corruption. Among the 9 suspects are said to be two from the upper management, Xiang Lang (Head of Esports) and Yin Cuchen (responsible for long-standing game series like Westward Journey Online).
According to a memo, NetEase has fired the 9 employees for bribery.
As Eurogamer reports, the 9 suspects were excluded from NetEase’s internal systems shortly after the first arrests occurred. Allegedly, the case involves 28 suppliers and around 130 million euros.
NetEase’s management is now also warning other employees to play by the rules. Their usual screensavers have been replaced with a text reminding employees of NetEase’s conduct guidelines and compliance rules.
This is what NetEase says: As Eurogamer reports, a spokesperson for NetEase stated that they are investigating the allegations of corruption but will not disclose any details at the moment.
The last time we reported directly about NetEase on MeinMMO was when they destroyed their own orc statue out of anger with Blizzard:
