China’s NetEase will take Minecraft into China on mobile devices and PCs

It took a long time to happen, but Minecraft is finally making it to China. Microsoft and its Mojang division have partnered with China’s NetEase to take the block-building game into the Chinese market on mobile devices and PCs.

As part of the deal, Mojang will develop a version of Minecraft tailored for the Chinese market and release it in partnership with NetEase. Minecraft is a world-renowned sandbox game that has sold more than 100 million units. Minecraft officially launched in 2011, and has received numerous global awards and accolades. The question is why it took so long to get to the world’s largest gaming market.

“We’ll always embrace opportunities to bring Minecraft to new players around the world, widening our community, and giving us a new perspective on our game,” said Jonas Martensson, CEO of Mojang, in a statement. “NetEase understands our long-term vision for Minecraft and supports Mojang’s ideals, so we’re delighted to have them on board. We look forward to welcoming China’s builders and adventurers to the world of Minecraft.”

Microsoft bought Mojang in 2014 for $2.5 billion.

“We are excited to bring Minecraft to Chinese audiences, and expect our large online community to embrace this preeminent game,” said William Ding, CEO and founder of NetEase, in a statement. “With our deep understanding of the Chinese market and our ability to successfully launch world-renowned online and mobile games, we offer a strong platform for the introduction of Minecraft to China’s vast user base. We believe this cooperation could leverage the strengths of both Mojang and NetEase, as well as provide the world’s largest audience with a superior user experience.”