Summary
A report from the Chinese websiteLeifeng(nice spot,Vice) suggests that several employees at NetEase Games have been arrested under suspicion of money laundering. NetEase Games is a substantial Chinese conglomerate known previously for operating Chinese versions of Blizzard games and now as the developers ofMarvel Rivals.
The report suggests the arrests were a result of an internal ‘sting operation’ by NetEase. The location of the weekly marketing meeting, normally held in Guangzhou, was changed to Hangzhou in advance. When general manager Xiang Liang and others suspected of corruption arrived in Hangzhou, they were detained and investigated.
The amount of money allegedly laundered is estimated to be between 800 million and 1 billion yuan ($111 million to $140 million). Additionally, members of Xiang Liang’s team were suspected by NetEase to be purchasing traffic for the studio’s games. This could have been to skew performance metrics, but that’s only conjecture. According to Leifeng, several employees have already been released, but Xiang Liang has not responded to requests for comment.
This scandal has already resulted in a corresponding 5% drop in the price of NetEase’s stock (NTES) since trading opened today.
NetEase’s Expansion Hasn’t Been Painless
NetEase has been making a push into international markets in recent years through acquisitions and partnerships. NetEase acquired Suda51’s Grasshopper Manufacture in 2021, Quantic Dream in 2022 and, as mentioned previously, is a long-time partner of Blizzard Entertainment, having launched Diablo Immortal in collaboration with the studio in 2022.
In 2022, Valorant developer Riot Games and parent company Tencent successfully sued NetEase for copyright infringement. According to Riot, NetEase’s hero shooter HyperFront was too similar to Valorant. HyperFront was shut down following the lawsuit.
NetEase’s most anticipated title, the 6v6 hero shooter Marvel Rivals, is currently set to release on December 6 after several betas and playtests. The game will have 26 characters at launch, including Psylocke, who recently hadsome of her gameplay leaked online.
Marvel Rivals
WHERE TO PLAY
Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
