Chinese publisher NetEase aims to develop movies, TV shows and cartoons based on its most popular mobile game IP.
The company revealed its plans for the coming year at the Third Annual 520 Game Enthusiasts’ Day.
It said it plans to further extend the reach of its IP, including its Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward Journey, Ghost and Tianxia franchises, with cartoons, TV shows and films in an effort to “enrich the content and user engagement”.
No mention of a film or TV series based on one of its other most successful mobile games, Onmyoji, was mentioned.
It was previously reported that the title had racked up more than 10 million daily active users and over 200 million downloads worldwide.
Grand plans
During the Enthusiasts’ Day event, NetEase also showcased more than 30 titles, including 13 brand new mobile games and two new PC titles.
It also announced the launch of Qiyu Club, a membership platform that offers exclusive rewards for all NetEase gamers.
“Looking ahead we are investing our resources in growing our presence in relevant genres such as light combat, advanced casual and indie games that address evolving trends and continue to shape the online world,” said NetEase CEO William Ding.
NetEase is one of China's biggest games companies. In October 2016, it was the top grossing mobile company in the world according to App Annie, usurping publishing giant Tencent to the top spot.
NetEase's revenues for 2016 came in at around $4 billion, and it's off to a strong start in 2017, having already brought in revenues of $2 billion in Q1.
