NetEase's Strong 4Q23 Performance: Expanding Globally and Launching New Games

2024-01-12
NetEase (NTES) has demonstrated a robust performance in the fourth quarter of 2023, marked by significant strides in its gaming division. The company's focus on overseas expansion and the introduction of new games have been pivotal in driving its success. Over the past two years, NTES has established 22 game studios globally, with plans to continue this expansion into 2024. This international growth strategy is a key component of the company's broader objectives. The fourth quarter saw a notable contribution to NetEase's revenue growth from new mobile game launches. Since June 2023, NetEase has released five new titles, including the popular 'Justice Mobile', 'Dunk City Dynasty', and 'Racing Master'. These games are expected to significantly contribute to the company's revenue in the third and fourth quarters of 2023. The addition of 268 servers for 'DHGL – 大话西游:归来' and 119 for 'Infinite Lagrange – 无尽的拉格朗日' underscores the growing demand for these new offerings. NetEase's rich game inventory is another strength, with over 50 games in the pipeline and more than 20 already licensed by Chinese authorities. This diverse portfolio positions the company well for sustained growth. Financially, NetEase is expected to outperform expectations in the fourth quarter of 2023, with projected revenues of RMB 28,796.6 million, a 13.6% year-over-year increase. This figure slightly surpasses the consensus estimate of RMB 28,413.0 million. In terms of mobile gaming, despite a year-over-year decrease in popularity levels, NetEase maintained a strong server presence with 8,603 mobile game servers in the fourth quarter. The company's flagship games continued to rank highly in December 2023. On the PC gaming front, NetEase saw a modest increase in servers and maintained stable average concurrent users, despite a decline in some titles. This balanced performance across both mobile and PC gaming platforms highlights NetEase's adaptability and strategic planning in a dynamic gaming market.
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