{{Short description|Shanghai-based online game operator}} {{about|the online game operator|the music group|The9 (group)|other uses|9 (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = The9 Ltd. | logo = The9 (Chinese company) logo.png | type = Public | traded_as = {{NASDAQ|NCTY}} | area_served = China | key_people = Zhu Jun (chairman and CEO) | industry = Video games | products = Online game operation | revenue = {{profit}}US$10.16 million (2014) | net_income = {{loss}}US-$17.03 million (2014)<ref>finance.yahoo.com</ref> | num_employees = 498 | parent = | subsid = | homepage = | footnotes = | founded = {{start date and age|1999}} | location = Shanghai, China }}
'''The9 Ltd.''' ({{zh|第九城市|}}) is a Shanghai-based online game operator which had the exclusive licence to operate and distribute World of Warcraft in China (launched in June 2005, it has since become the largest online game), a licence it secured after successfully aiding Webzen Games with the distribution of ''Mu Online'' in China. However, in April 2009, Blizzard said that the licence has been moved to NetEase.com.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/16/blizzard_ditches_the9/ |title=Blizzard ditches long-time WoW operator |first=Austin |last=Modine |date=16 April 2009 |access-date=4 March 2019 |work=The Register |publisher=Situation Publishing |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174624/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/16/blizzard_ditches_the9/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Game licences acquired == Note: Game licences acquired In rough order of release.
* Mu Online (the partnership has ended)<!-- Add only with citation: "(the partnership with Webzen has also ended because of The9's attempt to plagiarize the Korean gaming company's title)" --> * World of Warcraft (the partnership has ended)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/press/pressreleases.html?090416 |title=Press Releases |year=2011 |access-date=4 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720002354/http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/press/pressreleases.html?090416 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |work=Blizzard.com}}</ref> * Joyful Journey West * Guild Wars (Chinese version) (The deal with NCsoft ended prematurely.31 March 2008) * Soul of the Ultimate Nation * Granado Espada * Hellgate: London * Huxley * Ragnarok Online 2 * FIFA Online 2 * Atlantica Online * Free Realms<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chinagame.178.com/201007/74127528723.html |title=The9 to Operate Free Realms in China |date=26 July 2010 |access-date=4 March 2019 |first=Eva |last=Xia |work=China Game |archive-date=13 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013015827/http://chinagame.178.com/201007/74127528723.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> * PlanetSide 2 * Firefall *Winning Goal
==References== * Volume 1, Issue 49 of ''The Escapist'', "Red Blindness" by Allen Varney {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.the9.com/en/ The9 Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521081500/https://www.the9.com//en/ |date=21 May 2020 }}{{in lang|en}} * [http://www.the9.com The9 Official Website]{{in lang|zh}} {{Finance links | name = The9, Ltd. | symbol = NCTY | reuters = NCTY.O | bloomberg = NCTY:US | sec_cik = NCTY | yahoo = NCTY | google = NCTY }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:9}} Category:Companies based in Shanghai Category:Video game companies of China Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq Category:Internet properties established in 1999 Category:Chinese companies established in 1999
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