HomeNewsYakuza: Like a Dragon
Sega veteran Yakuza series director in talks to leave for NetEaseToshihiro Nagoshi may start a new team and new series
Toshihiro Nagoshi may start a new team and new series
“NetEase wants to play a bigger role in developing the games and content it hopes will turn into international hits, while also burnishing its credentials as a global rather than purely Chinese firm,” say Bloomberg’s sources.
Top 10 New PC Games For September 2021Watch on YouTube
Top 10 New PC Games For September 2021
NetEase aren’t alone in looking for talent to snap up Japanese studios and developers.
“Tencent and NetEase have been speaking to just about all publicly traded studios here and are actively courting some privately held developers, too,” industry analyst Serkan Toto of Kantan Games tells Bloomberg. “They both feel pressure to make headway in Japan, especially since game regulations in their home market are becoming increasingly restrictive.”
We do hear about Tencent’s investments and acquisitionsquite often. NetEase less so—around the RPS pages, anyhow. They’re involved with the likes of Diablo Immortal and other mobile games. Last year theyestablished Sakura Studio in Tokyo.
On a related note today is the announcement thatChina plans to restrict players under 18from gaming every Monday through Thursday and allow one hour a day of play time Friday through Sunday. It’s the latest inprevous restrictionson underage gamers in China. No surprise then that NetEase and Tencent are looking for developers and players that aren’t beholden to the same regulations.
