NetDragon Websoft

{{Infobox company

| name = NetDragon Websoft

| logo =

| traded_as = {{SEHK|0777}}

| genre = massively multiplayer online games

| foundation = {{Start date|1999|05}}{{cite web | url=http://ir.netdragon.com/about/overview.shtml | title=Company Overview | publisher=Netdragon Websoft Inc | accessdate=June 6, 2012}}

| subsid = JumpStart Games

| founder =

| location_city = Fuzhou{{cite web | url=http://ir.netdragon.com/investor/faq.shtml | title=FAQ | work=Netdragon Websoft Inc | accessdate=June 6, 2012}}

| location_country =China

| key_people =

| num_employees = 3300 (in 2014) {{cite web | url=http://ir.netdragon.com/investor/faq.shtml | title=FAQ | work=Netdragon Websoft Inc | accessdate=May 26, 2015}}

| homepage = {{URL|ir.netdragon.com|http://ir.netdragon.com/}}

}}

{{Chinese|s=福建网龙计算机网络信息技术有限公司|p=Fújiàn wǎng lóng jìsuànjī wǎngluò xìnxī jìshù yǒuxiàn gōngsī|l=NetDragon (Fujian) Computer Network Information Technology Co Ltd|Altname=Trading name}}

NetDragon Websoft is a Chinese company that develops and operates massively multiplayer online games in addition to making mobile applications. The company debuted its first product in 2002.

Some self-developed games it operates in China are based on Western IP, such as properties of Disney, Electronic Arts, and Ubisoft.For games based on Electronic Arts IP, see both {{cite web | url=http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=351083 | title=NetDragon Enters into Agreement with EA to Develop New Online Game -- Dungeon Keeper Online | work=Electronic Arts | date=December 1, 2008 | accessdate=June 6, 2012}} AND {{cite web | url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/24552/EA_NetDragon_Partner_On_Chinese_Ultima_Online.php | title=EA, NetDragon Partner On Chinese Ultima Online | publisher=UBM TechWeb | work=gamasutra.com | date=July 23, 2009 | accessdate=June 6, 2012 | author=Alexander, Leigh}}

For game based on Disney IP, see {{cite news | url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117996727?refCatId=20 | title=NetDragon, Disney pact for game: 'Fantasy Online' set for Spring 2009 release | work=Variety | date=Dec 2, 2008 | agency=Reed Elsevier Inc | accessdate=June 6, 2012 | author=Lim, Marcus}}
For game based on Ubisoft IP, see {{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2008/06/02/idUS25784+02-Jun-2008+PRN20080602|title=NetDragon Launches 'Heroes of Might and Magic Online' on May 30th 2008. |date=Jun 1, 2008 |publisher=PR Newswire |accessdate=June 8, 2012}} Other games based on its own IP are distributed in CIS nations, the Middle East, North Africa, Portugal, Russia, and Vietnam, etc.For Middle East and North Africa, see "NetDragon Sets the Bar for Arabic-language Region's Online Gaming Market." China Weekly News. NewsRX. 2011. HighBeam Research. 24 May. 2014
For Russia and CIS nations, see "NetDragon's 'Eudemons Online' Headed for Russia." China Weekly News. NewsRX. 2009. HighBeam Research. 24 May. 2014
For Indonesia, Malaysia, and Portugal, see "NetDragon Launches English Expansion Pack for Eudemons Online - 'The Divine Path'." Science Letter. NewsRX. 2009. HighBeam Research. 24 May. 2014 Some games are also available in English.

Prior to selling this side of the business to Baidu, the company created a mobile phone app store stocked with self-created games and applications.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} NetDragon had differentiated itself by eschewing selling apps through the distribution channels of others, instead creating its own;{{cite web | url=http://www.atelier.net/en/blog/2012/11/26/netdragon-websoft-mobile-gaming-booming | title=NetDragon Websoft : mobile gaming is booming | publisher=L’Atelier BNP Paribas | work=L’Atelier | date=November 26, 2012 | accessdate=January 7, 2013}} in essence making consumers download a separate app to download their apps, allowing them exposure to other Netdragon offerings in the process.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

The company headquarters, completed in 2014, garnered media attention for being inspired by Star Trek.{{Cite news |date=2015-05-25 |title=Chinese Firm's Headquarters Shaped Like 'Star Trek's' Enterprise |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/05/25/chinese-firms-headquarters-shaped-like-star-treks-enterprise/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |issn=0099-9660}}

Education

NetDragon Websoft started getting involved in education{{cite web | url=https://edu.nd.com.hk/|title=Technology Enhanced Learning}} in 2010 with the aims to develop "the largest learning community globally."{{cite web | url=http://www.asiaone.com/business/netdragon-announces-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2017-financial-results| title=NetDragon Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Results| date=March 22, 2018| accessdate=March 27, 2018}}

NetDragon has made several acquisitions regarding education and community, amongst which are included:

A partnership with the University of North Texas to launch the UNT-NetDragon Digital Research Centre.{{cite web | url= https://news.unt.edu/unt-launches-netdragon-digital-research-centre |title=UNT launches NetDragon Digital Research Centre

|date=May 15, 2018| accessdate=August 5, 2019}}

Edmodo was acquired by NetDragon on April 8, 2018.{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netdragon-signs-agreement-to-acquire-edmodo-to-create-the-largest-global-learning-community-300626053.html |title=NetDragon Signs Agreement to Acquire Edmodo to Create the Largest Global Learning Community|date=April 8, 2018| accessdate=August 27, 2018}}
On July 3, 2017, NetDragon announced that it had acquired American educational software publisher JumpStart Games.{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netdragon-acquires-jumpstart-to-expand-its-online-communities-300483164.html| title=NetDragon Acquires JumpStart to Expand Its Online Communities| date=July 3, 2017| accessdate=March 27, 2018}}
NetDragon also acquired a 100 percent stake in the UK-listed Promethean World back in 2015.{{cite web | url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2015-11/04/content_22364807.htm| title=China's NetDragon completes Promethean acquisition | accessdate=March 27, 2018}}

Sale of 91 Wireless

NetDragon sold its app store, 91 Wireless, to Baidu in 2013 for $1.85 billion. At that time, the sale was hailed as the biggest deal ever in China's IT sector.{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-baidu-91wireless-idUSBRE97D0AR20130814| title=Baidu says agrees to buy Netdragon's 91 Wireless for $1.85 billion | author=Paul Carsten | publisher=Reuters | date=14 August 2013}} As the company controlled less than 58% of 91 Wireless, Netdragon took an estimated $1.06 billion from the sale."NetDragon Signs Merger Pact between Baidu and 91 Wireless." Manufacturing Close-Up. Close-Up Media, Inc. 2013. HighBeam Research. 24 May. 2014

The mobile applications available through this store, many of which are "91" branded,{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} are quite disparate and include more than mobile games {{ndash}} running the gamut from fortune telling to wealth management.{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=0777.HK | title=Netdragon Websoft Inc (0777.HK): Full Description | publisher=Thomson Reuters | accessdate=June 6, 2012}}

CSR

The company sponsors the Fujian NetDragon Youth Business Foundation, which helps entrepreneurial youth to start a small business."NetDragon Fujian Honored with 2008 'National Outstanding Award for Internet Cultural Enterprise'." Internet Weekly News. NewsRX. 2009. HighBeam Research. 24 May. 2014