Hua Xia Shi Bao·2025-12-29 10:00Core Viewpoint - NetEase is undergoing significant personnel changes, with the retirement of Ding Yingfeng, a key figure in the gaming division, amid challenges in sustaining growth and competition in the gaming industry [2][4][8]. Group 1: Personnel Changes - Ding Yingfeng, the Executive Vice President and head of the gaming division, will retire on December 31, 2025, but will continue as a consultant [2][3]. - Ding has been with NetEase since 2002 and has played a crucial role in the development of iconic games like "Fantasy Westward Journey" [3][4]. - There are speculations that Hu Zhipeng, head of the Lei Huo division, may succeed Ding Yingfeng [5][6]. Group 2: Industry Context - The gaming industry is experiencing a shift in personnel management strategies, moving from rewarding historical contributions to focusing on current capabilities and immediate outputs [4][6]. - NetEase is facing growth challenges, with a lack of new blockbuster games, while competitors like Tencent are achieving significant revenue growth [8][10]. - In Q3 2025, NetEase reported a net income of 28.4 billion yuan, an 8.2% year-on-year increase, but its revenue growth has been slowing compared to competitors [8][10]. Group 3: Strategic Needs - Analysts suggest that NetEase needs to implement three key strategies: rebranding the industry image, addressing internal issues, and developing new blockbuster games [10]. - The success of "Egg Party" is fading, and the company has struggled to launch new successful titles, which is critical for its future growth [10].