NetEase acquires minority stake in Behaviour Interactive
Partnership to help enhance Chinese game giant's research and development efforts
NetEase Games has acquired a minority stake in Canada's largest studio, Behaviour Interactive.
The Dead by Daylight developer will continue to operate independently under the leadership of president and executive producer Rémi Racine, but NetEase Games will nominate a director to the company's board.
NetEase vice president Ethan Wang said the partnership would enhance the Chinese game giant's R&D efforts.
"NetEase's investment validates the reputation for excellence and efficiency we have built in the online games sector over the last 27 years," Racine added.
"At Behaviour, we are continuously looking for opportunities to accelerate growth by investing in R&D for new and innovative games for our players and in the recruitment of exceptional talent.
"As an industry leader in online games, NetEase brings highly reputable R&D and operational capabilities and experience that we believe will drive sustainable, long-term growth well into the future."
With 550 employees, Behaviour is one of the largest studios in North America.
It's catalogue is primarily work for hire, though in 2016 it released the award-winning asymmetrical multiplayer Dead by Daylight. Originally published by Starbreeze, Behaviour Interactive bought the publishing rights in 2018.
The studio was recently embroiled in some legal trouble over its Westworld mobile game, which Bethesda claimed was a copyright infringement of Fallout Shelter. However, the dispute was settled "amicably" earlier this year.