NetEase Establishes New US-Based Studio with Veteran Developers from Bethesda and BioWare

NetEase Games has unveiled the launch of its newest development studio, situated in Austin, Texas, dubbed T-Minus Zero Entertainment. The studio is set to be led by renowned industry veteran Rich Vogel, known for his work on Ultima Online and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Vogel previously held the position of VP of production and online services at Certain Affinity. Joining him as game director is Mark Tucker, a former design director at Bethesda with 22 years of experience in game design. Additionally, Jeff Dobson has come on board as art director, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his time at Bethesda and 13 years at Bioware in various leading art and animation roles. Rounding out the team is Scott Malone, who will serve as VP of operations and production, following seven years at Bethesda and over four years at Zenimax. The studio's inaugural title is slated to be a third-person online multiplayer action game based on a brand-new sci-fi IP. Vogel stated, "Our studio is dedicated to crafting epic, immersive worlds where players worldwide can come together, forming vibrant and passionate communities." He continued, "The team at NetEase Games shares our vision of creating memorable and meaningful experiences, and they have made it a priority to provide the necessary support and creative freedom for us to turn our vision into a reality." Simon Zhu, president of global investments and partnerships at NetEase Games, added, "T-Minus Zero Entertainment boasts an impressive roster of talented industry veterans with unparalleled knowledge and a passion for creating innovative gaming experiences." Zhu further emphasized, "NetEase Games is committed to empowering creators with the autonomy to build games that inspire players and evolve over time with the community. We eagerly anticipate sharing more about the projects Rich and the team are working on, and we will provide every possible support to help them grow." Notably, NetEase already has an established studio in Austin, Jackalyptic Games, which was initially launched in May 2022 under the name Jackalope Games before rebranding in May 2023 as it announced its work on the Warhammer IP.