After news broke last week about NetEase employees being arrested on suspicion of money laundering and bribery, details have started to crop up in one of the most baffling crime stories in recent gaming history.
The story starts to come together through various reports from different Chinese news outlets, and the tally so far seems to be at 9 arrests and around $139 million laundered.
NetEase has made a name for itself in recent years, with titles like Once Human, Marvel Rivals, and the upcoming Destiny: Rising under its belt.
According to Yicai Global and Leiphone, the marketing departments are at the center of the case.
General marketing manager Xiang Lang has been implicated in the money laundering scheme, and several subordinates are under investigation for purchasing traffic to boost NetEase products on social media platforms.
The articles also name former distribution and marketing director Jin Yuchen as part of the case, which allegedly involves up to 27 companies that remain unnamed thus far.
The exact figures for the money laundered by NetEase employees remain disputed, with sources ranging from 800 million to 2 billion yuan (approximately $111 million to $278 million).
The more widely accepted estimate, as reported by...
