Hangzhou-based technology giant NetEase Inc. secured a major international stage as two of its self-developed video games, Naraka: Bladepoint and Identity V, entered the competitive lineup at the 2026 Asian Games.
Following the opening of the Games on Sept. 19, Naraka: Bladepoint completed its tournament run from Sept. 23 to Sept. 24 as the event's sole Chinese martial arts-themed competitive title. Meanwhile, a customized Asian Games edition of Identity V is scheduled to mark the first asymmetrical competitive game in Asian Games history when its matches take place from Sept. 28 to Sept. 30.
Chinese national teams secured spots in the main tournament for both events with undefeated records during preliminary qualifiers held ahead of the Games. The Identity V qualifiers featured squads from 16 countries and regions, with the Chinese team remaining undefeated and earning honors as the top squad of the qualifying round. In the Naraka: Bladepoint qualifiers, which brought together teams from 15 Asian nations and regions, China advanced after finishing at the top of its group.
The inclusion of these proprietary titles highlighted the growing integration of domestic Chinese gaming intellectual property into international multi-sport athletic events. NetEase has expanded the professional infrastructure for both games in recent years, establishing a global tournament network for Identity V and a three-tier circuit for Naraka: Bladepoint that spans grassroots competitions, professional leagues, and world championship events.
