Tag: Netease
News PS5 RPG Where Winds Meet Makes a Strong Start with Two Million Players
Manages it inside 24 hours
The newly released PS5, PC online RPG Where Winds Meet attracted over two million players during its first 24 hours of availability, marking a successful launch for the free-to-play title. Everstone Studios shared the milestone on social media, and included some further stats like: One of the top 7 sellers on Steam One...
Hands On Where Winds Meet PS5 Is Vast, Visionary, and on the Verge of Collapse
A free-to-play epic unlike anything we've encountered before
After approximately 20 hours of play, we’ve barely scratched the surface of Where Winds Meet. We’d considered publishing a Review in Progress, but it quickly became evident that the scale of this game far exceeds the playtime we had available prior to release. Furthermore, we have...
News New Heroes, Modes, and Maps Revealed for Marvel Rivals Season 5, Starts 14th November
Love is a Battlefield
Marvel Rivals continues to go from strength to strength as NetEase keeps up with its post-launch support. The free-to-play game is about to enter Season 5: Love is a Battlefield, which will introduce at least two new playable characters. The first of these will be Gambit, who will be available when Season 5 begins on 14th...
News Marvel Rivals Is Seemingly Teasing Two New Heroes Joining the Fight in Season 5
Thanks, patch notes
The next two playable characters coming to Marvel Rivals appear to have been teased in the game's latest patch notes. The popular free-to-play shooter is getting its new update tomorrow, 6th November 2025, and while the patch's contents will be of interest to dedicated players, it's the image accompanying the post that has...
News Marvel Rivals' First Ever PvE Mode Gets Gameplay as Zombies Invade the Free PS5 Title This Week
Where's Deadpool when you need him?
Ahead of its Halloween event dropping later this week, on the 23rd October, Marvel Rivals has handed us a zombie-filled gameplay trailer. This is the free-to-play title's first ever foray into co-op PvE, as teams of heroes are tasked with taking down waves of undead enemies while completing set objectives. As...
News Marvel Rivals Is Going PvE with Zombies Mode Just in Time for Halloween on PS5
Marvel Zombies invasion
NetEase has announced the first PvE mode for its popular free-to-play shooter, Marvel Rivals. Collaborating with the recently released miniseries Marvel Zombies, the aptly named Zombies mode is coming to the game on 23rd October, 2025: In the above announcement video, we see Marvel Studios' Brad Winderbaum and Marvel...
News Almost 800 People Are Working on Ambitious Anime Open World Ananta
Kitchen sink approach
There are between 700 and 800 people currently working on the wildly ambitious anime open world Ananta. The number won’t come as a huge surprise to anyone who’s seen the latest footage of the title, which blends the best of several different games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man, GTA 5, and Batman: Arkham Asylum. It’s...
Preview We Played Anime Open World Ananta, and It Could Change Everything
We talk to NetEase about the most disruptive game in years
Two years ago, when we interviewed Ashley Qi from NetEase subsidiary Naked Rain, we asked the Lead Producer outright: is Ananta – then known as Project Mugen – real? He insisted it was, and now having played a PC build of the outrageously impressive anime open world for around 30...
News Seriously, What's the Catch with Ananta? Free PS5 Open Worlder Looks Mental in Uncut Gameplay
Big city, big dreams
Every time we lay our eyes on Ananta, we end up questioning its integrity. And we mean that in the best possible way — at least for now. This is the anime-styled open world game — previously known as Project Mugen — from Chinese developer Naked Rain. The game's been blowing minds ever since its initial reveal a couple of...
News Wildly Promising GTA-Style Open World Scraps Character Gachas Completely
Wait, what?!
Well, if NetEase’s upcoming Ananta really is real, then the rest of the free-to-play market is in big trouble. A Famitsu cover story has revealed that the jaw-dropping anime open world game has no character gacha at all. Monetisation functions through character customisation, so you’ll be able to buy different cosmetics, cars, and...
Watch almost 10 minutes of footage
We really like NTE, the other upcoming anime-style GTA game from Perfect World. But as this almost 10-minute trailer shows, Ananta – formerly known as Project Mugen – blows it out of the water. This trailer is just a non-stop medley of insane gameplay ideas. Most of the content is pulled from other popular...
News Free-to-Play Smash Hit Marvel Rivals Is Confirmed for PS4 in Season 4 Trailer
Daredevil and Angela duke it out
Popular free-to-play hero shooter Marvel Rivals is currently available on PS5, of course, but it'll soon be coming to Sony's last-gen console too. Yes, the game is bound for PS4, as confirmed at the end of this latest trailer: This Season 4 trailer, which gives players a glimpse at new characters Daredevil and...
News Marvel Rivals Reveals Its Version of Blade, Swoops into PS5 Shooter Next Week
Die by the Blade
Iconic vampire hunter Blade will arrive in Marvel Rivals as part of the game's Season 3.5 update on the 8th August, the game's latest character reveal trailer confirms. Plenty of praise has been heaped on the title's character designs up until this point, and this take on the sword-wielding Daywalker is especially slick. In keeping...
News There's Concern Over Marvel Rivals' Player Count, Even Though It's Still Super Popular
Underwatch
Don't you just love this trend of overanalysing Steam-based player numbers? Marvel Rivals is the latest game to attract negativity, as its player count has suffered a substantial drop over the last few months. But as always, context is vitally important. After releasing in December of last year, the Overwatch-style, live service shooter...
News No One Knows What's Going on in This Atmospheric Where Winds Meet PS5 Trailer
But it sure looks neat
We haven’t got the foggiest what’s going on in this Where Winds Meet trailer, but it sure looks cool. The moody General Wang Qing story trailer will probably hit harder if you’re clued up on your Chinese history, but we can’t say we’re particularly knowledgeable about the Warring States period and all that it...
News Smartphone Destiny Spin-Off Attracts Over 5 Million Pre-Registrations
Rise up
Destiny: Rising – a smartphone-focused spin on Bungie’s looter shooter series – will launch on 28th August, potentially giving Sony its first mobile hit. The Japanese giant has been eager to release its own suite of smartphone games for some time, poaching Apple Arcade talent and even acquiring developer Neon Koi – but it’s failed...
News Wuxia Open World Where Winds Meet Will Be a PS5 Console Exclusive for Six Months
Sony has dibs on Chinese title
There’s a lot to breakdown about the confirmation that Where Winds Meet will be a PS5 console exclusive for at least six months, announced at the end of a new trailer for the game. Firstly, it follows the news that Sony’s own Helldivers 2 will be launching on Xbox Series X|S next month. Is there really any point...
News Blood Message Is Uncharted Meets Ancient China, and It Looks Phenomenal
Single-player action adventure from NetEase
Publisher NetEase Games has announced Blood Message, its first AAA single-player action adventure game, and it looks fantastic. It's being developed by 24 Entertainment, previously known for online multiplayer title Naraka: Bladepoint. While it's a different kind of game altogether for the studio, the...
News PS5 Pirate RPG Sea of Remnants' New Gameplay Trailer Doesn't Really Answer Any Questions
You know Orbtopia?
One of the most intriguing announcements made at Sony's latest State of Play was Sea of Remnants, and despite a second trailer showing more gameplay, we're still scratching our heads a little. The new video focuses on the port city hub world you can explore at your leisure, showing off merchants, character customisation, and side...
News Free-to-Play Piratical RPG Sea of Remnants Sets Sail for PS5
Water surprise
There’s a lot going on with Sea of Remnants, a new pirate game from NetEase and Joker Studio. It’s a free-to-play game, with both single player and online components. It’s also a turn-based RPG with survival mechanics, open world exploration, crew management, and more. Like we said, there’s a lot going on! The game’s been...
News This Is One Way for PS5 Sensation Marvel Rivals to Print Money
Fun in the sun
If you’ve followed the fandom around PS5 hero shooter Marvel Rivals, you’ll know it can tend to get a bit… Well, y'know, horny. NetEase will be laughing all the way to the bank with the game’s upcoming swimsuit outfits, then, which have been teased as part of an upcoming comic book. The Marvel Swimsuit Special was an annual...
News Fast-Paced Free-to-Play Shooter FragPunk Is Now Available on PS5
Heart of the cards
After a last-minute delay to the console versions, popular free-to-play shooter FragPunk is finally available to play on PS5. Publisher NetEase has brought its twitchy, unique FPS to PS5 today, with both cross-platform play and cross-progression supported. This means you can play with those on PC, and even continue your progress...
Mini Review Rusty Rabbit (PS5) - Predictable But Fun Metroidvania Starring Scavenging Rabbits
Scwap hunting wabbits
Rusty Rabbit opens with the brooding, atmospheric tone of a noir detective mystery. World-weary narration introduces us to Stamp — a grizzled, down-on-his-luck salvager with a dark past. Stamp is a talking rabbit. The game is set in a post-human world, inhabited by the kind of rounded, fluffy rabbits you might see in a...
News Don't Be Late to the Hellfire Gala in Marvel Rivals on PS5
Emma Frost, Ultron arrive for Season 2
The second season of hit live service shooter Marvel Rivals is almost upon us, and that means there are two new characters and an avalanche of fresh outfits to look forward to. This teaser trailer gives us our first taste of newcomer Emma Frost and Ultron, as familiar faces descend upon Krakoa for the Hellfire...
News FragPunk Dev Apologises For Making Fun of Spectre Divide Shutdown
Poor form
In a situation you don't see very often, mainly for solidarity and decency reasons, Bad Guitar Studio (FragPunk) has publicly apologised to Mountaintop Studios (Spectre Divide) after mocking the imminent shutdown of its debut title. Bad Guitar said its since deleted comment, which took the form of a Captain America meme (thanks,
News Marvel Rivals' March Update Has Arrived, Clone Rumble and Cosmic Adventure Now Live
Let's get ready to rumble
Marvel Rivals latest update is now live, introducing some needed adjustments to its pantheon of heroes, as well as adding the Clone Rumble mode and Galacta's Cosmic Adventure special event. Of course, there is a laundry list of bug fixes and optimizations to look forward to. Galacta's Cosmic Adventure will allow players to...
News FragPunk Delayed on Consoles at the Last Minute, Was Due Out Tomorrow
PS5 players will receive compensation
FragPunk, the latest online multiplayer shooter from Chinese publisher NetEase, has been indefinitely delayed on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S just 24 hours before it was scheduled to release. While the PC version will still launch as planned on Thursday, 6th March 2025, the console editions will be held back because...
News Quantic Dream Responds to Recent Layoffs at Parent Company NetEase
NetEase "hasn't wavered in its global expansion plans"
Quantic Dream, the developer behind Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human (amongst others), has responded to the recent round of layoffs at NetEase as the publisher pulls back from its Western video game endeavours. A wholly-owned subsidiary of NetEase, and having spent years working on Star Wars...
News Flying Heroes Are Menacing Their Landbound Marvel Rivals
Look! Up in the sky
It seems like those pre-update fears about Human Torch's devastating abilities may have been well founded; Marvel Rivals players, since the mid-season one update last week, have been scanning the skies nervously, fearing the inevitable aerial assault of the growing list of flying heroes. It's only natural that new characters...
News Yakuza Creator's Next Game Will Be Sent to Die As NetEase Implodes
Not good news
Back when Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi left SEGA and signed up with NetEase, it was expected he’d have the resources required to make the next big thing. After all, the Chinese juggernaut was on an outrageous spending spree, with money seemingly no object at all. Now it sounds like his next game will be sent out to die...
News Marvel Rivals Passes 40 Million Players as NetEase Reports $2.9 Billion in Net Revenue
Superior numbers
It's hard to escape Marvel Rivals these days, and if it seems like everyone is playing NetEase's mega-popular game, it's probably because they are. More than 40 million players have fired up the free-to-play hit, and the developer reports it made a superhuman $2.9 billion in net revenue; not bad, considering it was only released on...
News Human Torch Already Has Marvel Rivals Players Calling for a Nerf
Johnny Storm has yet to be added to the game
In a seemingly unprecedented situation, hyper-engaged Marvel Rivals players are already calling for a nerf to Human Torch's high-flying, flame-slinging abilities, despite the character not even being added to the game until tomorrow, 21st February, alongside Ben "The Thing" Grimm. Even if you are...
News Marvel Rivals Trailers Distract with Human Torch, The Thing Gameplay
“It's clobberin' time!”
Hot off the news that NetEase just laid off the US support team for the ridiculously successful Marvel Rivals, the marketing machine continues to roll forward relentlessly. Get a look at both Human Torch and The Thing in gameplay reveal trailers, as well as an overview of the upcoming Central Park map, set to arrive on...
News Marvel Rivals Maker Reassures Fans PS5 Hit Will Not Be Affected by Layoffs
NetEase investing more into game
Not even instantly becoming one of the most popular live-service games on the market is enough, apparently, as now a support studio that worked with NetEase on Marvel Rivals has been laid off. To be clear: this seems to be a USA-based team that's been supporting the main NetEase development studio, and not the game's...
News Marvel Rivals Immediately Walks Back Controversial Mid-Season Rank Reset
"Flame on!"
Marvel Rivals has done an immediate about-face, walking back the mid-season rank reset it announced yesterday in the face of fan furore. Developer NetEase had initially said that with the second half of season 1 arriving on 21st February, players' competitive ranking would be dropping some four divisions; that's no longer the case. Not...
News Human Torch, The Thing Will Join Marvel Rivals Next Week in Season 1 Update on PS5
Fantastic
Human Torch and The Thing will round out the playable Fantastic Four heroes in Marvel Rivals when they arrive in the game next week, on 21st February 2025. Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman launched alongside the beginning of Season 1 back in January, and now the other two members of the squad are turning up as part of a mid-season...
News Suspicion as Marvel Rivals Dev Accused of Planting Fake Hero Leaks
Land mines for data miners
Currently enjoying an enormous player base, the surprisingly sticky Marvel Rivals is presently sitting pretty, the envy of many in the industry. Fan hype is high, as is anticipation for future heroes. But in a fascinating situation, some in the community have become convinced that developer NetEase is responsible for the...
News Marvel Rivals Turns Its Hand to Soccer in Spring Festival Event on PS5
Ballin'
Fresh from its time-limited Splatoon-inspired winter mode, Marvel Rivals is now turning its attention to soccer – or Lucio Ball, depending on your preference. A new mode for Spring Festival, available from 23rd January, will see you get your Rocket League on, as you try to score past your opponents using a variety of moves and tackles. It...
News Spider-Man Will Soon Reunite with Insomniac's Iconic Advanced Suit in Marvel Rivals
White spider costume coming soon
Naturally, Spider-Man is among the large (and growing) cast of playable characters in Marvel Rivals. His default look in the hero shooter is quite traditional, but you'll soon be able to switch it up with a new outfit coming to the game soon. If you prefer the look of Spidey's suit in the Marvel's Spider-Man series,...
News The Invisible Woman's Marvel Rivals Super Power Exposes Quickplay Bots
Armor Wars
The Invisible Woman, AKA Dr Susan "Sue" Storm-Richards, has developed a new superpower beyond anything Stan Lee or Jack Kirby could ever have imagined: exposing the bots being secretly dropped into Marvel Rivals' Quickplay matches, bolstering struggling players by giving them an easy win. We covered the admittedly conspiratorial...
News Marvel Rivals Will Grow Rapidly with a New Hero Being Added Every Month and a Half
Assemble
Hero shooter smash hit Marvel Rivals already has dozens of playable characters to get to grips with, but the developer is far from finished adding to the roster. In a recently published interview with Metro, director Guangyun Chen has described the team's aim for post-launch support, and it sounds like new heroes will arrive with...
News Yakuza's Kiryu Actor Stars in Action Platformer Rusty Rabbit This April on PS5
Happy Easter
Rusty Rabbit, a side-scrolling action adventure from NetEase and Nitroplus, is coming to PS5 on 17th April, 2025. While there's an English version of the release date trailer, we've embedded the Japanese one, because the Japanese dub stars voice actor Takaya Kuroda in the lead role — best known in the West as the deep voice of Kazuma...
News Marvel Rivals' First-Month Revenue Shows Sony Should Continue to Pursue Live Service on PS5, PC
NetEase has a golden goose on its hands
Marvel Rivals has seemingly captured a large swathe of players in the live service space, and Chinese developer NetEase has revealed the staggering amount of cash brought in during the game's first month: $136 million, according to estimates, with $36 million of that coming from China alone.Outlet GameLook has...
News Marvel Rivals Fans Swooning Over Its New Season 1 Skins
Wolverine! Scarlet Witch! Loki!
Marvel Rivals is eating Overwatch 2's lunch right now, and it's seemingly about to double down on that domination with the launch of Season 1 this Friday. NetEase has uploaded a trailer documenting the season's Battle Pass content, and a lot of the skins you can unlock have players excited. See them in action in the...
News Mister Fantastic's First Marvel Rivals PS5 Gameplay Looks, Well, Fantastic
Strategist Susan Storm also showcased
Here’s our first look at Reed Richards, better known as Mister Fantastic, in Marvel Rivals. The Duellist character will debut as part of Season 1, which is scheduled to launch later this week, on 10th January. We now know that Mister Fantastic will be joined by The Invisible Woman initially. The pair will be...
News Marvel Rivals' First Proper PS5 Season Starts 10th January
And here's the first trailer
After a brief primer season, Marvel Rivals will get underway proper from 10th January on PS5. As previously teased, Eternal Night Falls will feature the Fantastic Four, although it’s still unclear how all four new characters will be rolled out. Some claim they’ll all be there from day one; others argue there’ll be...
News Marvel Rivals Dev Apologises After Mistakenly Banning Players for Cheating
Vows to make tackling proper cheaters a top priority
Marvel Rivals developer NetEase has apologised after mistakenly banning players wrongly flagged for cheating. The action has since been reversed, and the studio says tackling legitimate cheaters remains a priority. On Discord, NetEase apologised for the affair (thanks, IGN), assuring players it...
News The Fantastic Four Are Coming to Marvel Rivals on PS5, And They Look Freakin' Fabulous
They're cooking
When you’re on top of the world like Marvel Rivals right now, you may as well just go for the freakin’ jugular. How about the Fantastic Four for Season 1 for starters? As is the case with almost all the characters in the NetEase game, the quad squad look incredible, with a full trailer due on 6th January at approximately 8AM...
News Conspiratorial Marvel Rivals Report Suggests Bots in Quickplay Always Part of the Plan
Add bots, ???, profit
Marvel Rivals is just about the hottest free-to-play game short of the eternal Fortnite right now, drawing over 20 million players in just two weeks, and developer NetEase must move quickly to retain them. According to a fairly conspiratorial report, bots are allegedly being added to Quickplay matches, on the down low, to make...
News Marvel Rivals Is Truly Unstoppable As It Tops 20 Million Players
In just two weeks
They said free-to-play live service games are dead, and then Marvel Rivals and Infinity Nikki said no. The former has now topped 20 million players across all platforms, reaching the milestone in just two weeks. That’s prior to Jeff the Land Shark bringing his seasonal Splatoon mode, too. <related ids
