NetEase acquired developer SkyBox Labs for an undisclosed fee. According to the press release, the 12-year-old studio will continue to operate independently while “working closely with existing and new partners to pursue creative opportunities and co-develop titles in the PC and console space.”
SkyBox is best known for helping to co-develop games with studios like 343 Industries (Halo Infinite, plus Halo 5 and its Forge mode) and Bethesda (Fallout 76).
With Canada being a popular hub for game developers (especially Montreal), SkyBox’s presence allows NetEase to acquire more talent and increase its presence in the western gaming space. Considering the number of studios acquired or created by NetEase in 2022 (such as Quantic Dream and Jar of Sparks), a support studio or two makes the game development process easier.
NetEase’s president of partnerships Simon Zhu added that it will provide its new subsidiary with “resources and execution capabilities so that SkyBox Labs can “achieve faster scale while maintaining the quality of work the studio is known for “.
Outside of the games it co-developed, SkyBox also made its own titles, such as 2019’s Stela. It’s unclear if the studio will get other opportunities in the future to create its own original works.
SkyBox co-founder Shyang Kong said the acquisition of NetEase will allow developers to take advantage of the parent company’s resources and grow in the Canadian gaming space. “We remain committed to expanding our presence in Canada, supporting our current and future partners, and co-developing more triple-A games for some of the world’s biggest studios.”
NetEase’s full acquisition of SkyBox comes a few months after it invested in Rebel Wolves, the studio led by The Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz.
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