NetEase (NASDAQ:NTES) (NASDAQ: NTES) is a leading Chinese technology company specializing in online services centered on content, community, communications and commerce. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, NetEase initially gained prominence through its email services before expanding into online gaming, which remains a core pillar of its business. The company develops, publishes and operates some of the most popular PC-client and mobile games in China, while also collaborating with global partners to bring internationally renowned franchises to local and global markets.
In the gaming segment, NetEase boasts a diverse portfolio of self‐developed titles as well as licensed partnerships with major Western publishers. Its original offerings span massively multiplayer online role‐playing games (MMORPGs), mobile strategy games and casual titles, attracting hundreds of millions of registered users. Through strategic collaborations, NetEase has localized and operated well-known franchises such as those from Blizzard Entertainment, strengthening its position in both domestic and overseas markets.
Beyond gaming, NetEase has diversified into e‐commerce, online education and music streaming. The company operates Kaola, a cross-border e-commerce platform offering imported goods to Chinese consumers, and Youdao, an online education subsidiary providing digital learning tools and services. NetEase Cloud Music, launched in 2013, has grown into one of China’s most popular music streaming services, featuring curated playlists, social interactions and original content.
Leadership at NetEase is spearheaded by founder and CEO William Ding Lei, who has guided the company’s evolution from a pioneering internet portal into a multifaceted technology enterprise. While its primary market remains Mainland China, NetEase continues to pursue global expansion through overseas studios, partnerships and localized operations, serving users across Asia, Europe and the Americas. This broad geographic footprint supports NetEase’s ongoing innovation in gaming, digital media and e-commerce.
