NetEase Expands Portfolio with Acquisition of SkyBox Labs

NetEase has officially acquired SkyBox Labs, a Canadian game development studio known for its work on notable titles such as Halo Infinite, Minecraft, and Fallout 76, which was founded in 2011. Following the acquisition, SkyBox Labs will continue to operate under the guidance of its original founders, Shyang Kong, Derek MacNeil, and Steven Silvester, ensuring the studio's independence is preserved. According to Kong, "By joining forces with NetEase Games, we will be able to accelerate our creative plans, leverage world-class operational resources, and tap into the vast array of services offered by NetEase, enabling us to expand more rapidly in the Canadian market. Our team is comprised of talented and passionate individuals, and this partnership will allow us to pursue new opportunities and scale our business more efficiently." In addition to its continued independence, SkyBox Labs will also maintain its collaborative approach, working alongside both existing and new partners to co-create games. This acquisition is the latest in a series of strategic moves by NetEase, which has been expanding its operations since 2022. Notably, the company unveiled a new studio led by veteran game producer Toshihiro Nagoshi in January of that year. NetEase further established its presence in the US market with the launch of Jackalope Games in May 2022, under the leadership of Jack Emmert, and later introduced another US-based studio, Jar of Sparks, in July, headed by Jerry Hook, formerly the head of design for Halo Infinite. In November 2022, NetEase also secured a minority stake in Liquid Swords, a Swedish independent game developer.