NetEase Games acquires SkyBox Labs

NetEase Games has acquired Canada-based game studio SkyBox Labs, the company announced.

SkyBox Labs will continue to operate independently within NetEase Games under the leadership of co-founders Shyang Kong, Derek MacNeil, and Steven Silvester, and continue to work with existing co-development partners and new partners in the future.

The Canadian studio previously co-developed titles with Xbox Game Studios, Wizards of the Coast, and Electronic Arts, including the Halo and Age of Empires series. It also released the original titles Stela and TASTEE: Lethal Tactics.

“Over the last decade, we’ve had the pleasure to work on beloved games such as Halo Infinite, Minecraft, and Fallout 76,” said SkyBox Labs co-founder Shyang Kong in a press release. “We remain committed to growing our presence in Canada, supporting our current and future partners, and co-developing more AAA games for some of the biggest game studios around the world. 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 Games president of global investment and partnerships Simon Zhu added, “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.”

NetEase Games will support the studio with resources and execution capabilities so that SkyBox Labs can achieve faster scale while maintaining the quality of work it is known for.