Halo Infinite Co-Developer SkyBox Labs Acquired By Chinese Tech Company NetEase Games

Canadian-based game studio SkyBox Labs has been acquired by NetEase Games, the game division of internet and game services provider NetEase. SkyBox Labs will continue to operate independently within NetEase Games and will be led by co-founders Shyang Kong, Derek MacNeil, and Steven Silvester. The studio will continue to work closely with its existing co-development partners, and will be adding new partners in the future. With support from NetEase Games, SkyBox Labs will be able to pursue new creative opportunities and co-develop titles for PC and console platforms. 

Shyang Kong, co-founder of SkyBox Labs, said in a statement:

“We have built a team of talented individuals who are passionate and creative, and by joining NetEase Games, we will also be able to accelerate our plans to pursue new creative opportunities, and enjoy access to world-class operational resources and the full breadth and depth of NetEase’s services so we can scale faster in Canada.”

NetEase will provide the studio with resources and execution capabilities to help SkyBox Labs achieve faster scale while maintaining the quality of its work. The studio will continue to grow and hire new employees in Canada across all aspects of game development, including art, engineering, design, production, and QA.

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

“We are thrilled to welcome SkyBox Labs to the NetEase Games family and are committed to creating an environment that allows them to thrive and operate independently as a game studio. We were impressed with their extensive experience in game development and are great admirers of their past work on some of the world’s leading franchises. We look forward to working with the SkyBox Labs co-founders and providing the resources needed to help them grow their presence in Canada as they continue to support top creators around the world in developing unforgettable gaming experiences for players.”

SkyBox Labs was founded in 2011 and has developed titles alongside top publishers such as Xbox Game Studios, Wizards of the Coast, and Electronic Arts. Some of the studio’s notable works include Halo Infinite, Minecraft, and Fallout 76. The studio will continue to operate independently within NetEase Games and will work with existing and new partners to co-develop titles in the PC and console space.

NetEase is a leading internet technology company based in China that offers premium online services centered around content creation. The company’s offerings include mobile and PC games, intelligent learning, online music content, and private label consumer products. In addition to its majority-controlled subsidiaries Youdao and Cloud Music, NetEase also operates a number of other businesses, including advertising services, online education, and content distribution.

Last year, NetEase acquired Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dreams and has a partnership agreement with Blizzard Entertainment to publish and provide services for Blizzard IPs such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, and Diablo in mainland China. However, the licenses NetEase Games has with Blizzard Entertainment will expire January 23, 2023 with no renewal as of this time. 

No details about how much NetEase Games paid to acquire SkyBox Labs was provided.

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