A Chinese mobile phone user opens the NetEase Games app on his smartphone in Ji'nan, East China's Shandong province, on Sept 4, 2018. (Photo: IC)

NetEase Games, the online games division of NetEase Inc, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired a strategic minority stake in Behaviour Interactive Inc, Canada's largest independent video game developer.

Following this investment, Montreal-based Behaviour will continue to operate independently under the leadership of its president and executive producer, Remi Racine. NetEase Games will nominate a director to Behaviour's Board.

"NetEase's investment validates the reputation for excellence and efficiency we have built in the online games sector over the last 27 years," said Racine. "As an industry leader in online games, NetEase brings highly reputable R&D and operational capabilities and experience that we believe will drive sustainable, long-term growth well into the future."

"NetEase is pleased to further develop our relationship with Behaviour, an online games pioneer and a leader of the asymmetrical battle arena genre," said Ethan Wang, vice-president of NetEase, in a press release. "We look forward to leveraging Behaviour's deep passion and expertise to enhance our R&D efforts and deliver even more exciting new products to players worldwide."

Privately held Behaviour develops games that turn players' imagination into reality. The company is the creator of the first globally successful asymmetric multi-player horror game, Dead by Daylight, and the developer of over 250 titles, which have been delighting players on all major platforms since 1992.

Looking to boost revenue and add more foreign content to its roster, NetEase has partnered with multiple international companies from The Pokemon Company and Marvel to release new games.