NetEase Closes Studio of Former Watch Dogs and Splinter Cell Developers

NetEase, the Chinese tech giant, has confirmed the closure of a game development studio formed by former Ubisoft Toronto developers. The studio, which was founded in 2023, was working on an adventure action game similar to ‘Stranger Things’ but unfortunately never released any titles.

The closure of the studio comes as part of NetEase’s recent series of studio closures, with this being the third company shut down since August. The decision to close the studio was effective November 17, 2025, leaving the developers without a publisher to continue their work.

It’s a sad day for fans of the Watch Dogs and Splinter Cell franchises, as the talented team behind these popular games will now have to seek new opportunities in the ever-changing game development industry.

NetEase’s move to shut down the studio has raised questions about the future of game development and the challenges faced by independent studios in finding publishers for their projects. The gaming community will surely miss the creativity and innovation that this team of developers brought to the table.