Naraka: Bladepoint Mobile Market Forecast: China

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Analysts project that the mobile version of NetEase’s Naraka: Bladepoint will generate 6.4 billion yuan ($880 million) in revenue within its first year of release in China.
02
The anticipated performance of Naraka: Bladepoint Mobile is expected to contribute 6-7% to NetEase’s total revenue growth over the next year.
03
Following the positive revenue outlook, NetEase shares increased by 6.3% in Hong Kong on July 24, 2024.
04
The mobile title launched in China on July 25, 2024, with over 40 million pre-registrations secured prior to release.
05
The original PC version of Naraka: Bladepoint has seen recent performance peaks, reaching 385,770 concurrent users on Steam following its Season 13 update.
06
The game has transitioned to a free-to-play model and has accumulated 40 million players globally since its initial 2021 launch.

Summary

The mobile adaptation of the battle royale title Naraka: Bladepoint is positioned to become a significant revenue driver for NetEase following its exclusive launch in the Chinese market. Financial analysts project the game will generate approximately 6.4 billion yuan, or $880 million, in revenue during its first year of operation. This anticipated performance is expected to contribute between 6% and 7% to the company’s overall revenue growth for that period, a forecast that has already positively influenced NetEase’s stock valuation in Hong Kong.

The mobile launch follows a period of sustained momentum for the franchise, which has accumulated over 40 million global players since its initial PC release in 2021. The title recently achieved record-high daily active user counts and concurrent player figures on Steam, bolstered by the release of its thirteenth season. With over 40 million pre-registrations secured prior to its mobile debut, the game enters a competitive Chinese landscape alongside other recent high-profile releases such as Dungeon & Fighter Mobile and Zenless Zone Zero.

This market entry reflects a broader trend of major publishers successfully transitioning established PC and console intellectual properties to the mobile segment in China. The optimistic outlook for the mobile version of Naraka: Bladepoint marks a strategic shift for the development team at 24 Entertainment, which has transitioned from modest initial expectations for the original PC release to high growth projections for the mobile platform.