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CCP Games, developer of the massively multiplayer spacefaring game Eve Online, has turned over publishing duties for that game’s Chinese servers to NetEase. The internet giant will assume control of Eve’s Serenity servers in October.
Eve Online is unique among MMOs in that the entire world plays together in the same in-game universe called Tranquility. The entire world, that is, except China, which has its own universe called Serenity.
“CCP and NetEase share a common goal of commitment to quality and service,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CCP’s CEO, in a press release. ”We know that EVE Online fans in China are passionate about their gameplay, and our unified goal is the least amount of interruption to their gaming journey during EVE Online‘s transition to the new publisher in this market.“
Ethan Wang, a vice president at NetEase, was likewise eager to talk up the arrangement.
“We’re excited to be working together to advance the game experience of all Eve enthusiasts in China,” said Wang in the same press release.
NetEase is among the largest video game publishers in the world, known in China for the Westward Journey series. It operates games from Blizzard Entertainment in the Chinese market, including World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, StarCraft 2 and Overwatch. It also recently made a significant investment in Bungie, the developer behind Destiny 2.
CCP and NetEase are also working on a mobile MMO for the Chinese market called Eve: Project Galaxy, which will leverage augmented reality technology developed by Apple.
