NetEase Games, one of the biggest video game developers and publishers in the world, is back with another NetEase Connect showcase to share not only updates on existing and upcoming games, but also to unveil brand-new, never-before-seen games. From Harry Potter: Magic Awakened to NARAKA: BLADEPOINT to The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War to Once Be Human, there were a wide variety of games on display this year that are worth a look.
IGN Japan was on hand to get the drop on every NetEase Games’ title discussed in NetEase Connect 2022, and we’ve gathered each and every one below for you to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is an upcoming immersive collectible card role-playing game that is set in the magical world of Harry Potter and will arrive on PC and mobile in 2022. Players will become a young witch or wizard who was just accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the journey will begin by customizing your character, purchasing school supplies at Diagon Alley, getting sorted into a house by the Sorting Hat, and competing in the Dueling Club.
As players embark on riveting new stories, they will meet familiar faces from the original Harry Potter series, learn spells and charms, master challenging trials, and duel other players. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened will also feature cross-platform play support and will soon be headed to more global markets after taking the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions by magical storm with over 50 million downloads.
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT
NARAKA: BLADEPOINT is a 60-player PvP mythical action battle royale game that sold over six million copies in just 90 days. It is set to arrive on mobile devices soon and NetEase Connect 2022 was able to debut not only exclusive new gameplay footage, but also a brand new hero in Takeda, a samurai who has a demon living inside of him and who comes equipped with a katana and armor.
The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War
The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War brings the world of legendary author J.R.R. Tolkien to life on mobile via a geo-strategic seasonal wargame. Rise to War is feature-packed with tons of content, and you can check out IGN’s beginner’s guide to get started today.
Once Be Human
Once Be Human was revealed exclusively during NetEase Connect 2022. It is a new weird survival game where players need to collect resources and try to fight against the unknown danger. Once Be Human takes place 40 years after civilization has fallen. In this world, a mysterious silver door opened and brought with Stardust that polluted the land and created hordes of terrifying monsters. The last hope for humanity are those with special powers called Beyonders, whose hearts and thoughts are still the continuation and destination of human civilization. For more details, please follow Once Be Human on IGN Summer of Gaming this June.
Mission Zero
Mission Zero is another new game that is a 2v4 competitive stealth game that casts players as either the invader or the chaser. Through infiltration, hacking, and high-risk escapes, the best team will emerge victorious. Four invaders are tasked with blending into an environment with disguises and must work together to recover confidential information. Two chasers have to find and apprehend these invaders before they complete their mission.
ZOZ: Final Hour
ZOZ: Final Hour is another brand-new game that debuted at NetEase Connect 2022 and it is a third-person shooting game with an exciting twist. You and 14 other mercenaries infiltrate the zombie-infested city of San Yager to stop the undead threat and collect valuable Blood Crystals. However, zombies aren’t the only threat as your fellow team can choose to betray you at any moment. Additionally, players who die during the match will come back as zombies, complete with new skills and infinite respawns.
Dead by Daylight Mobile
Dead by Daylight Mobile kicked off NetEase Connect 2022 and celebrated its recent launch in Japan and Southeast Asia. NetEase plans to continue to work closely with Behaviour Interactive to add meaningful content to the game, and the team teased that there will be an “exciting update” for Dead by Daylight Mobile in the west in the near future and that a test for this update will be “coming up very, very soon.”
LifeAfter
LifeAfter is entering its fourth year in 2022 and the open-world doomsday survival game for PC and mobile devices is set to receive a new expansion that will feature a massive ocean that players can explore. With over 200 million registered players and the recent launch of 2021’s The Revenant update that let players become half-human/half-zombie hybrids, those who haven’t tried LifeAfter yet may find now to be the perfect time.
Infinite Lagrange
Infinite Lagrange is a sci-fi grand space simulation mobile game and its universe is shaped by millions of players that inhabit it. With the current update “Identity Agreement”, the game enabled players to choose diversified identities and use different skills embedded with those identities to better explore the universe. This summer, Infinite Lagrange will introduce the concept of “Legacy”, which will allow players to search for legacy items and use them to develop their own forces.
Badlanders is a new next-gen competitive survival looter shooter game that is available now on PC and mobile. In Badlanders, 25 players compete to be the very best, and must kill and steal the loot of other players to secure victory. The game features a selection of realistic real-world weapons and an open in-game economy that encourages players to invest in to level up their arsenal and start the next battle with an advantage.
Identity V
Identity V is a unique asymmetric game that features rich character stories with compelling gameplay. The game will feature a crossover event with Japanese steam-punk style artist Mitsuji Kamata. Additionally, the ONCE series costume of the Photographer will be available for detectives in the future.
Tank Company
After first releasing in China, Tank Company will be rolling out globally in the near future and will introduce even more players to this online multiplayer game that puts 15 players against 15 more in a selection of real historical tanks from World War II and the Cold War on a variety of maps. Players will also be able to level up their tanks and customize them, in addition to joining a clan and exploring scorching deserts, snow-covered towns, and much more.
Ace Racer
Ace Racer is set to speed out of early access and present players with the full version of this over-the-top high-speed racing game that has cars flashing through walls, transforming while driving, and even dashing into the sky. Take to the streets in Tokyo, California, Shanghai, and more, all while becoming the best racer in the world.
Vikingard
Vikingard was first shown at NetEase Connect 2021 and it is back this year following its launch on March 21, 2022. This simulation RPG for mobile devices that puts you in charge of a Viking tribe fighting for glory allows players to travel through Scandinavia and Europe in search of
battles, all while growing your tribe, creating alliances, and conquering new lands. You can even forge romances and raise pets. In June, Vikingard will also receive the Midsummer expansion, which will expand the game world even further.
Lost Light
Lost Light is a survival shooter for PC and mobile that is currently in open beta. In Lost Light, players take on the role of a member of the Firefly squad, who are at war with the Marauders in a post-apocalyptic future. Players are encouraged to choose their own ways to survive the so-called ‘Exclusion Zone’ – which allows you to either look for resources stealthily, or fight with others to loot their scarce items. Lost Light provides a PvPvE experience that also boasts cross-platform play across PC and mobile.
Lost Light will start its first iOS test in Q3 2022 and those who watch NetEase Connect 2022 could redeem a limited in-game bundle that includes key items to improve the efficiency of their shelter upgrades.