Microsoft, Mojang and NetEase Games introduce the sandbox game Minecraft to China
Soon Chinese Minecraft fans will be able to create and explore their very own worlds limited only by their imaginations. Microsoft, Mojang and NetEase, Inc. today announced a five-year exclusive agreement to license Mojang’s Minecraft mobile and PC editions to a NetEase, Inc. affiliate in mainland China. As part of the agreement, Mojang will develop a version of Minecraft tailored for the Chinese market and release it in partnership with NetEase. Minecraft is a world-renowned sandbox game that enables players to adventure in uncharted realms, collect resources and build in an infinite world.
Minecraft officially launched in 2011, and has received numerous global awards and accolades. There are more than 100 million registered Minecraft players of all ages in nearly every country in the world.
Minecraft features multiple game modes and offers players limitless ways to play. In survival mode, the players gather resources to keep themselves alive and build shelters and other contraptions. While in creative mode, players have access to endless resources so they can construct any building or scene out of almost any block in the game. Players also can enjoy maps and scenarios created by others in adventure mode. Besides these various game modes, the Minecraft community has over the years created countless numbers of mods and custom content for use in Minecraft. Minecraft provides players an open platform and enables them to create their very own utopia with endless possibilities.
“We’ll always embrace opportunities to bring Minecraft to new players around the world, widening our community, and giving us a new perspective on our game,” said Jonas Martensson, CEO of Mojang, creators of Minecraft. “NetEase understands our long-term vision for Minecraft and supports Mojang’s ideals, so we’re delighted to have them on board. We look forward to welcoming China’s builders and adventurers to the world of Minecraft.”
“We are excited to bring Minecraft to Chinese audiences, and expect our large online community to embrace this preeminent game,” said William Ding, CEO and founder of NetEase, Inc. “With our deep understanding of the Chinese market and our ability to successfully launch world-renowned online and mobile games, we offer a strong platform for the introduction of Minecraft to China’s vast user base. We believe this cooperation could leverage the strengths of both Mojang and NetEase, as well as provide the world’s largest audience with a superior user experience.”