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NetEase cuts jobs, projects as growth remains slow

NetEase Inc. is undergoing major restructuring under CEO William Ding, cutting hundreds of jobs and halting multiple game projects.
The company is shifting to a more focused portfolio, canceling around a dozen games and shutting down some international studios, including Ouka, Worlds Untold, and Jar of Sparks.
Fewer than 60 employees were affected by these closures.
Additionally, Ding has paused new investments in gaming studios and IPs since early 2024 and scaled back the global investment team.
Financially, NetEase saw mixed results in the December quarter. Gaming revenue grew by 1.5%, but gross profit declined by 2.6%.
Overall growth has been slow, with only single-digit increases in the past two years.
Marvel Rivals has been a standout, generating over US$200 million in revenue since December and attracting more than 40 million users.
Despite industry challenges like stagnant player growth and rising development costs, Ding remains focused on long-term revenue potential.
The company is committed to supporting skilled creators and high-quality projects, such as Eggy Party.
Recent NetEase developments
Timeline |
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02-Dec-2024 📉 NetEase said to cut jobs due to game underperformance
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27-Dec-2023 🎮 Tencent, NetEase shares recover slightly after Beijing relaxes gaming stance
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28-Apr-2022 🎮 NetEase to end battle royale title in June
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30-Jul-2021 🎶 NetEase’s music-streaming arm gets nod for $1b Hong Kong IPO
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01-Jun-2020 🎮 China’s NetEase to raise $3.2b in Hong Kong listing
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25-Oct-2019 📉 Why NetEase’s e-learning unit slashed New York IPO target
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🔗 Source: Bloomberg
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