NetEase is undergoing significant restructuring within its global operations, involving leadership changes and studio closures. The company has seen notable shifts, including the departure of Xiaojun Hui, president of NetEase Games, as part of a broader overhaul that includes hiring recent finance graduates for key roles. Meanwhile, the company has denied rumors of wide-scale layoffs despite these changes.
The restructuring comes alongside NetEase's decision to close or pause operations at several overseas studios, such as Ouka in Japan, Worlds Untold in Canada, and Jar of Sparks in the U.S., with fewer than 60 employees affected by these closures. Insider Monkey reports that while aggressive expansion marked previous years, the current strategy marks a step back with a focus on core operations, though key studios like BulletFarm remain operational.
These moves reflect NetEase's strategic pivot after years of global expansion, as they re-evaluate their international strategies amid industry concerns about talent churn and studio instability. According to Insider Monkey, the company’s adjustments illustrate the challenges of maintaining a wide-reaching operational footprint in a dynamic industry landscape.