NetDragon Websoft

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Chinese internet technology company focused on online games, mobile applications, and education technology.

Last updated October 12, 2026

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Overview

NetDragon Websoft is a Chinese internet technology company whose principal activities have included the development and operation of massively multiplayer online games, mobile applications, and digital education products. Founded in 1999, the company released its first product in 2002 and established its early identity through online game development and operation. Its portfolio has included original game properties such as Conquer Online and Eudemons Online, as well as games connected with internationally recognized entertainment and game franchises. Some of its products have been distributed outside China, including in the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, North Africa, Portugal, Russia, and Vietnam, with selected titles made available in English and other languages. A notable part of NetDragon's early mobile strategy was its effort to control its own distribution rather than rely entirely on third-party application channels. The company created 91 Wireless, an application-store and mobile-distribution business that offered games and a broad range of other applications. The 91-branded services exposed users to NetDragon's wider software portfolio and represented an attempt to build a direct relationship with mobile users. NetDragon sold 91 Wireless to Baidu in 2013. The transaction was reported as one of the largest deals in China's information-technology sector at the time. Because NetDragon held less than a controlling majority of the business, the proceeds attributable to NetDragon were lower than the headline transaction value. NetDragon began expanding into education technology around 2010, with an ambition to build a large digital learning community. This expansion broadened the company beyond entertainment software and led to a series of acquisitions, partnerships, and investments in classroom technology, educational software, and online learning communities. The company acquired a full stake in UK-listed Promethean World in 2015, acquired American educational-software publisher JumpStart Games in 2017, and acquired Edmodo in 2018. It also partnered with the University of North Texas to establish the UNT-NetDragon Digital Research Centre. These moves gave the company exposure to school technology, educational content, learning platforms, and international education markets. NetDragon's headquarters in Fuzhou, completed in 2014, attracted attention for an architectural design inspired by the Star Trek fictional universe. The building became a visible expression of the company's technology-oriented identity. Alongside its commercial activities, NetDragon has supported youth entrepreneurship through the Fujian NetDragon Youth Business Foundation, which assists young people seeking to establish small businesses. The company therefore combines two related but distinct identities: an online-game developer and operator with a portfolio of original and licensed intellectual property, and an education-technology group assembled through international acquisitions and institutional partnerships. Its historical development has been marked by movement from games into mobile distribution, followed by a larger strategic emphasis on digital education. NetDragon remains a publicly listed Chinese technology company, although the available reference material does not establish a complete current breakdown of its active products, geographic revenue mix, or management roster.

History

NetDragon Websoft was established in China in 1999 and entered the software market with its first product in 2002. Its early and defining business was the creation and operation of massively multiplayer online games. The company developed original game properties, including Conquer Online and Eudemons Online, while also operating games associated with Western entertainment and game intellectual property. Its distribution model extended beyond China: selected original properties were marketed in regions including the CIS, the Middle East, North Africa, Portugal, Russia, and Vietnam, and some titles were offered in English. NetDragon later pursued a direct mobile-distribution strategy. Rather than depending solely on third-party application channels, it developed 91 Wireless, an application-store business carrying games and many other categories of mobile software. The service's 91 branding and its wide application selection helped create a separate distribution point through which users could encounter additional NetDragon products. In 2013, NetDragon sold 91 Wireless to Baidu in a transaction valued in reported coverage at US$1.85 billion. The sale marked a major change in the company's mobile-business structure and was widely characterized as a landmark Chinese technology transaction. Since NetDragon owned less than 58 percent of 91 Wireless, the amount attributable to NetDragon was reported as approximately US$1.06 billion. Education became another major development path. NetDragon began working in education around 2010 with the stated goal of building a large learning community. Its education strategy relied substantially on acquisitions and partnerships. The company established the UNT-NetDragon Digital Research Centre with the University of North Texas, acquired all of UK-listed Promethean World in 2015, announced the purchase of JumpStart Games in 2017, and acquired Edmodo on April 8, 2018. These transactions connected NetDragon with classroom hardware and software, educational publishing and games, online learning communities, and international school technology markets. The completion of the company's Fuzhou headquarters in 2014 provided a prominent physical symbol of its technology identity. The building's design was inspired by Star Trek and received media attention for that reason. NetDragon has also supported youth entrepreneurship through the Fujian NetDragon Youth Business Foundation, which assists young people in starting small businesses. Taken together, NetDragon's history shows a progression from Chinese online games to mobile application distribution and then to a broader international education-technology platform. The company's game business supplied its original commercial foundation, while the education acquisitions expanded its scope into schools, teachers, learners, and digital classroom services. The available reference material confirms that NetDragon is publicly listed and active, but does not provide enough information to describe its complete current operating structure, current executive team, or the status of every acquired product.

2018
Edmodo is acquired
[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
NetDragon acquires Edmodo, expanding its digital education and learning-community portfolio.
2017
JumpStart Games acquisition is announced
[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
NetDragon announces the acquisition of American educational-software publisher JumpStart Games.
2015
Promethean World is acquired
[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
NetDragon acquires a 100 percent stake in UK-listed education-technology company Promethean World.
2014
Fuzhou headquarters is completed
[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The company's Star Trek-inspired headquarters in Fuzhou is completed and attracts public attention.
2013
91 Wireless is sold to Baidu
[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
NetDragon sells its mobile application-store business to Baidu in a transaction reported at US$1.85 billion.
2010
Education expansion begins
[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
NetDragon begins its education initiative, aiming to develop a large digital learning community.
2002
First product is released
[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The company debuts its first product and begins building its identity as an online-game developer and operator.
1999
NetDragon is founded
[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
NetDragon Websoft is established in China, beginning the corporate history of the online-game and internet-technology company.

Products and positioning

A Chinese technology group combining online-game development and operation with international education-technology assets and digital learning services.

Massively multiplayer online game
Conquer Online
Conquer Online is one of NetDragon's established original online-game properties. It belongs to the company's MMORPG portfolio and has been distributed internationally, including in English-language markets. The title illustrates NetDragon's strategy of developing proprietary game intellectual property that can be operated in China and licensed or distributed across overseas regions.
Massively multiplayer online game
Eudemons Online
Eudemons Online is an original NetDragon online-game property and one of the company's best-known game offerings. It represents the company's focus on persistent online worlds and its practice of taking internally developed intellectual property into international markets, including regions outside China and selected English-language territories.
Mobile application distribution
91 Wireless
91 Wireless was NetDragon's mobile application-store and distribution business. It carried self-created games and a broad collection of other mobile applications, using 91-branded services to provide a direct channel between users and software. NetDragon sold the business to Baidu in 2013.
Education technology
Promethean
Promethean was an international education-technology business acquired in full by NetDragon in 2015. Its inclusion in the group broadened NetDragon's activities from online entertainment and consumer software into classroom technology and digital tools used in educational settings.
Educational software and games
JumpStart Games
JumpStart Games is an American educational-software publisher acquired by NetDragon in 2017. The acquisition added educational content and learning-oriented games to NetDragon's international education portfolio.
Online learning platform · 2018
Edmodo
Edmodo was an education-focused online platform acquired by NetDragon in 2018. It extended the company's position in digital learning communities and connected NetDragon's education strategy with online tools for students, teachers, and schools.

Controversies

2023
Source 1 Source 2

2018
Acquisition of EdmodoM&A
Background
NetDragon's education strategy included building online learning communities in addition to acquiring classroom technology and educational content.
Action taken
NetDragon acquired Edmodo on April 8, 2018.
Aftermath
Edmodo added an established digital learning-community platform to NetDragon's international education activities.
Source
2017
Acquisition of JumpStart GamesM&A
Background
NetDragon sought additional international educational software and content as part of its education-technology strategy.
Action taken
NetDragon announced that it had acquired American educational-software publisher JumpStart Games.
Aftermath
The deal expanded NetDragon's portfolio of learning-oriented software and games.
Source
2015
Acquisition of Promethean WorldM&A
Background
NetDragon was expanding its education activities beyond games and online entertainment through international education-technology assets.
Action taken
The company acquired a 100 percent stake in UK-listed Promethean World.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened NetDragon's presence in classroom technology and digital education.
Source
2013
Divestment of 91 Wireless to BaiduM&A
Background
NetDragon had developed 91 Wireless as a direct mobile application-distribution channel carrying games and other software. The business attracted strategic interest as China's mobile-app market expanded.
Action taken
NetDragon sold 91 Wireless to Baidu in a transaction reported at US$1.85 billion. NetDragon's attributable proceeds were reported at approximately US$1.06 billion because it controlled less than 58 percent of the business.
Aftermath
The transaction removed NetDragon's major mobile app-store operation and helped define the company's subsequent emphasis on online games and education technology.
Reported transaction value. US$1.85 billion reported transaction value; approximately US$1.06 billion attributed to NetDragon (2013)
Source

Recent events

2018
NetDragon acquires Edmodo[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
M&A
NetDragon acquired Edmodo, an education-focused online platform, adding a recognized digital learning community to its education-technology portfolio.
2017
NetDragon acquires JumpStart Games[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
M&A
NetDragon announced the acquisition of American educational-software publisher JumpStart Games as part of its expansion in international education products and content.
2015
NetDragon acquires Promethean World[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
M&A
NetDragon acquired a 100 percent stake in UK-listed education-technology company Promethean World, expanding its presence in classroom technology and digital education.
2014
NetDragon completes Star Trek-inspired headquarters[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
Other
NetDragon's headquarters in Fuzhou was completed. Its design attracted media attention because of its resemblance to the fictional USS Enterprise from Star Trek.
2013
NetDragon sells 91 Wireless to Baidu[1]NetDragon Websoft - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
M&A
NetDragon sold its mobile application-store business, 91 Wireless, to Baidu in a transaction reported at US$1.85 billion. The deal was described in contemporary coverage as one of the largest transactions in China's information-technology sector.

Sources18 sources

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