NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES) is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Hangzhou that develops and operates Internet services and products. Founded in 1997 by William Ding (Ding Lei), the company has grown from an early web portal and e-mail provider into a diversified online services group. William Ding has served as the company's founder and long-time leader, guiding its expansion into games, digital content and consumer services.
The company's primary business is interactive entertainment: NetEase Games designs, develops and publishes PC and mobile games for domestic and international audiences, offering a mix of self-developed franchises and titles published under licensing and strategic partnerships. Beyond gaming, NetEase operates a range of consumer Internet services, including the popular 163.com web portal and e-mail services, NetEase Cloud Music (a music streaming and social platform), and online retail and lifestyle brands. NetEase also operates education and productivity services under the Youdao brand and has built capabilities across digital advertising and content distribution to support its ecosystem.
NetEase serves primarily the Chinese market while pursuing international expansion through global publishing, partnerships and localized game releases. Historically the company has engaged in collaboration and licensing arrangements with international game developers to bring foreign titles to Chinese players. As a publicly listed company on the NASDAQ exchange, NetEase continues to position itself as a diversified Internet and entertainment group focused on content creation, platform services and consumer-facing digital products.