NetEase Games Acquires Halo and Minecraft Co-Developer SkyBox Labs

Abdul Saad

NetEase Games has announced its acquisition of Canadian studio SkyBox Labs. SkyBox will reportedly continue to operate independently within NetEase Games under the leadership of the three co-founders Shyang Kong, Derek MacNeil and Steven Silvester. It will continue to work closely with its existing partners to co-develop games for PC and consoles. The studio is currently working on Halo Infinite, Minecraft games and Fallout 76. NetEase Games will also 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.SkyBox Labs co-founder Shyang Kong commented on the news in a press release, saying: “Over the last decade, we’ve had the pleasure to work on beloved games such as Halo Infinite, Minecraft, and Fallout 76. 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:“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.”