NetEase, the Chinese tech giant, is announcing its next major partners -- Marvel and The Pokemon Company. Best known in the west for its mobile games and ownership of the Overwatch Shanghai Dragons esports team, NetEase is a multimedia powerhouse in China. Its new partnerships with Marvel and the Pokemon Company are just the latest impressive move by NetEase, leading to several new games for the Chinese market and potentially beyond.

To start, the extent of NetEase's Pokemon partnership involves bringing over a game that's currently available in other markets. That game is The Pokemon Company's Pokemon Quest, which if approved will be the first Pokemon game to be released on smartphones in China. No further details regarding other Pokemon game localizations have yet to be announced, likely due to the social nature of Pokemon Go and how its structure and monetization will struggle to get approval given China's heavy restrictions on video games.

Marvel's partnership with NetEase is much broader and more interesting. The partnership allows NetEase to create new video games, television shows, and comic books based on Marvel's superheroes and stories. No specific announcements have been made about NetEase's plans, though it's clear that given the breadth of the partnership and the strength of the Marvel brand NetEase will likely be moving fast. And NetEase has already acknowledged bringing its works to the west, as well.

The value of the Marvel property in China should not be understated. The Avengers: Endgame film just recently crossed over $600,000 million in ticket sales in China alone. The potential for Marvel video games, TV shows, and comic books in China is likely staggering. And given NetEase's track record, which includes the hugely successful Knives Out battle royale game and localizations properties including World of Warcraft and  Minecraft, the company is more than capable of capitalizing on the partnership.

What kind of impact western game players should expect from this partnership remains to be seen. It could very well be minimal, as NetEase could decide to focus entirely on the Chinese market and never release anything in the west. Or even if it did, its style of free-to-play mobile experiences may not appeal in the west. Alternatively, they could create something special and consumable that western audiences adore. Anything AAA or for consoles doesn't seem likely, but anything's possible.

Expect more regarding NetEase's future plans with Marvel and The Pokemon Company in the months to come.