NetEase Inc., a leading provider of Internet and gaming services, announced that its gaming division NetEase Games has acquired SkyBox Labs, the game studio that co-developed Halo Infinite.

SkyBox Labs had been developing games with the world’s leading publishers, including Xbox Game Studios, Wizards of the Coast and Electronic Arts. With support from NetEase, the company will continue to operate independently, working closely with existing and new partners to realize creative opportunities and co-develop games for PC and consoles.

SkyBox will continue to operate independently as part of NetEase Games under the leadership of the company’s three co-founders, Shyang Kong, Derek MacNeil and Steven Silvester, and provide a full range of game development services to current and future partners.

Over the past decade, we’ve had the pleasure of working on such beloved games as Halo Infinite, Minecraft, and Fallout 76. We remain committed to expanding our presence in Canada, supporting our current and future partners, and participating in the development of more AAA games for major game studios around the world. We have built a team of talented people who are passionate and creative, and by joining NetEase we will be able to accelerate our plans to pursue new creative opportunities, as well as gain access to world-class operational resources and the full depth of NetEase services that will allow us to grow faster in Canada.

Shyang Kong, co-founder of SkyBox Labs
Fallout 76

We are excited to welcome SkyBox Labs to our family and are committed to creating an environment that allows them to thrive and operate independently as a game studio. We’ve been impressed with their extensive experience in game development and are big fans of their past work on some of the world’s leading franchises. Furthermore, we look forward to working with their co-founders and will provide the necessary resources to help them expand their presence in Canada while continuing to support the best creators around the world in game development.

Simon Zhu, president of global investment and partnerships at NetEase Games

SkyBox Labs will continue to grow and hire new employees in Canada across all game development disciplines. The companies are committed to supporting local communities in Canada by participating in cultural events and other activities.

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