The9
The9 is a Shanghai-based Chinese online game operator and distributor known for licensing and operating major multiplayer game titles.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The9, also known as The9 Ltd. and 第九城市, is a Shanghai-based online game operator whose business has centered on acquiring, localizing, distributing, and operating licensed online games in China. The company became internationally visible through its role in bringing overseas massively multiplayer online games to the Chinese market. Its best-known commercial relationship was with Blizzard Entertainment for World of Warcraft, which The9 launched in China in June 2005 after securing the operating rights. The title subsequently became one of the largest online games in the country and gave The9 a prominent position in China’s rapidly expanding online-gaming sector. The company’s earlier experience with Mu Online was important to its expansion into high-profile international licensing. The9 assisted Webzen with the distribution of Mu Online in China, and this relationship helped establish the company’s capabilities as a local operator for foreign game publishers. Building on that experience, The9 assembled a broad portfolio of licenses covering role-playing games, massively multiplayer online games, action titles, sports games, and other online products. The portfolio included Mu Online, World of Warcraft, Joyful Journey West, Guild Wars, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, Granado Espada, Hellgate: London, Huxley, Ragnarok Online 2, FIFA Online 2, Atlantica Online, Free Realms, PlanetSide 2, Firefall, and Winning Goal. The9’s licensing history also illustrates the volatility of the Chinese online-game market. Several agreements were partnerships with overseas publishers and therefore depended on contractual renewals, regulatory approvals, commercial performance, and the ability of the Chinese operator to support localization and distribution. The company’s arrangement for Guild Wars with NCsoft ended prematurely on 31 March 2008. The most consequential change came in April 2009, when Blizzard announced that the Chinese operating license for World of Warcraft would move from The9 to NetEase.com. This ended The9’s most important operating relationship and marked a major transition in the company’s public profile. Rather than representing a single consumer game, The9 functioned primarily as a corporate operating and publishing platform. Its brand was associated with local market access, online-game distribution, service operation, and relationships with international developers and publishers. The available reference material does not establish a current flagship product, present ownership structure, current leadership, or current operating status. Accordingly, those fields remain unspecified rather than inferred from the company’s earlier licensing activities.
History
The9 developed as a Chinese online-game operator with a business model based on representing overseas game publishers and operating their titles in China. Its early experience with Mu Online came through cooperation with Webzen Games. The9 assisted with the game’s distribution in China, and the relationship provided practical experience in localization, market entry, distribution, and ongoing online-game operations. The Mu Online partnership later ended, but it served as an important foundation for the company’s subsequent licensing strategy. The company’s most prominent period began when it secured the exclusive Chinese operating license for Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft. The game launched in China in June 2005 through The9. World of Warcraft went on to become the largest online game in China according to the cited reference material, giving The9 substantial visibility among players, publishers, and investors. The arrangement demonstrated the value of a capable local operator for an international game publisher entering China, where localization, distribution, customer support, regulatory compliance, and network operations were essential to commercial success. Alongside World of Warcraft, The9 pursued a wide range of other licensing agreements. Its portfolio included Joyful Journey West, Guild Wars, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, Granado Espada, Hellgate: London, Huxley, Ragnarok Online 2, FIFA Online 2, Atlantica Online, Free Realms, PlanetSide 2, Firefall, and Winning Goal, in addition to Mu Online. These titles covered several genres, including role-playing games, massively multiplayer online games, action games, and sports games. The breadth of the portfolio indicates an effort to diversify beyond one major franchise and to maintain a pipeline of international online properties. The licensing model also exposed The9 to relationship and renewal risk. Its agreement with NCsoft for the Chinese version of Guild Wars ended prematurely on 31 March 2008. The decisive turning point came in April 2009, when Blizzard announced that the World of Warcraft license in China would move to NetEase.com. The transfer ended The9’s most important known operating partnership and changed the company’s role in the Chinese online-game market. The available reference material does not provide sufficient information to document the company’s later ownership, executive leadership, financial performance, current product portfolio, or operating status. Those aspects therefore remain open for further verification.
- 2009
World of Warcraft operating license transfers to NetEase
[1]Blizzard announced in April 2009 that the Chinese license for World of Warcraft had moved from The9 to NetEase.com.
- 2008
Guild Wars agreement ends prematurely
[1]The9’s agreement with NCsoft for the Chinese version of Guild Wars ended on 31 March 2008.
- 2005
World of Warcraft launches in China through The9
[1]The9 launched World of Warcraft in China in June 2005 under an exclusive operating license.
The9 establishes experience distributing Mu Online in China
[1]The9 assisted Webzen Games with the distribution of Mu Online in China. The partnership later ended, but it preceded the company’s larger international licensing activities.
Products and positioning
A China-focused online-game operator and distributor that built its profile through localized operation of internationally developed online games.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game · 2005
World of Warcraft
Blizzard’s massively multiplayer online game was The9’s best-known licensed offering in China. The9 launched the game in June 2005 and operated it under an exclusive Chinese license until Blizzard announced in April 2009 that the license would move to NetEase.com.
Online role-playing game
Mu Online
Mu Online was associated with The9’s early distribution work in China. The company assisted Webzen Games with distributing the title, gaining experience that supported its later role as an operator of major international online games. The partnership subsequently ended.
Online role-playing game
Guild Wars
The9 handled the Chinese version of Guild Wars through an agreement with NCsoft. The deal ended prematurely on 31 March 2008.
Online games
Other licensed online games
The9’s cited license portfolio also included Joyful Journey West, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, Granado Espada, Hellgate: London, Huxley, Ragnarok Online 2, FIFA Online 2, Atlantica Online, Free Realms, PlanetSide 2, Firefall, and Winning Goal. The available material identifies these as acquired game licenses but does not provide individual launch dates or detailed operating histories.
Brand decisions
2009
Transfer the World of Warcraft China license to NetEaseStrategyBackground
The9 had operated World of Warcraft in China since its June 2005 launch.
Action taken
Blizzard announced in April 2009 that the Chinese operating license would move from The9 to NetEase.com.
Aftermath
The transfer ended The9’s most important known licensing relationship and represented a major change in its position within China’s online-game market.
2008
End the Guild Wars licensing relationshipOtherBackground
The9’s agreement with NCsoft covered the Chinese version of Guild Wars.
Action taken
The agreement ended prematurely on 31 March 2008.
Aftermath
The9 no longer held the cited Guild Wars arrangement with NCsoft. The available source does not explain the commercial or contractual reasons for the termination.
2005
Launch World of Warcraft in ChinaProduct launchBackground
The9 held the exclusive Chinese operating license for Blizzard’s World of Warcraft after developing experience with international online-game distribution.
Action taken
The company launched World of Warcraft in China in June 2005 and operated the title in the local market.
Aftermath
The game became the company’s most prominent offering and one of the largest online games in China. Blizzard later transferred the Chinese license to NetEase.
Recent events
NFTSTAR signs exclusive license agreement with the Antetokounmpo brothers[2]
Reported:
The9 announced that its wholly owned subsidiary NFTSTAR signed an exclusive license agreement with Giannis Antetokounmpo and his three brothers to develop, sell, and trade NFT collections authorized by the brothers. The brothers will also become global ambassadors and shareholders of The9 and NFTSTAR.
The9 signs term sheet for Kazakhstan crypto-mining joint venture[3]
Reported:
The9, through wholly owned subsidiary NBTC Ltd., signed a term sheet with KazDigital Ltd. to form a joint venture and build a 100-megawatt mining site in Kazakhstan.
- Unconfirmed
Exchange approves final Skychain financing tranche[4]
Reported:
The TSX Venture Exchange completed its review and approved Skychain Technologies to issue the final tranche of 1,010,628 units to The9.
Skychain closes first tranche of financing with The9[5]
Reported:
Skychain Technologies arranged and closed the first tranche of a private placement with The9. The company issued debentures and 1,620,951 units to The9, giving it a 9.9% interest; the remainder of the offering remained subject to Exchange approval.
The9 announces pricing of approximately $125 million ADS offering[6]
Reported:
The9 announced an underwriting agreement for an offering of 3,765,100 American depositary shares and warrants, with expected gross proceeds of approximately $125 million before expenses. The offering was expected to close on or about April 5, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.
The9 reports 2020 audited financial results[7]
Reported:
The9 Limited reported that it filed its annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which contains its audited financial statements.
Sources7 sources
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