NetEase Games’ Next MMORPG May Have Been Revealed by Two New Trademarks

Chinese gaming giant NetEase Games may have another MMORPG in the works, as two new trademark applications for ECC: REDLINE have surfaced in the US and Europe. The US filing specifically mentions MMORPG services, although the company has yet to announce a game under that name.

The applications appeared on September 21, 2026, and cover several gaming-related services. While there’s no official announcement or information about the project itself, the wording of the US filing gives us a clearer idea of what NetEase may be working on, although it may be mostly behind closed doors for now.

NetEase Files Trademarks For ECC: Redline

Let them cook? | Credit: NetEase Games

As first reported by Insider Gaming, NetEase Interactive Entertainment Pte. Ltd. filed two trademark applications for ECC: Redline on September 21, 2026. One was submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (via USPTO), while the other was filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (via EUIPO).

The US application specifically lists “entertainment services providing massively multiplayer online role-playing games,” alongside online multiplayer games, esports tournaments, and other gaming services. It also covers downloadable game software for PCs and mobile phones, although that doesn’t confirm which platforms a potential game would support.

The European filing also covers smartphone applications, virtual reality-related entertainment, and online gaming services, suggesting NetEase is seeking protection for ECC: Redline across a broad range of gaming-related products and services. The two applications use the same name, but their descriptions aren’t identical. That said, the US filing does provide the clearest reference to MMORPGs.

It’s worth remembering that trademark applications cover the products and services a company wants to protect a name for. They don’t necessarily confirm that every listed service will appear in a finished game, and they certainly don’t give us a release window or an idea of how far development has progressed.

NetEase Has Been in the MMORPG Business for Over Two Decades Now

NetEase has spent years developing and publishing online games, with Fantasy Westward Journey Online remaining one of its longest-running MMORPGs since its 2001 launch. The game continues to attract a substantial audience in China, and NetEase reported record concurrent player counts for the title earlier this year:

More recently, Sword of Justice arrived globally in November 2025, adding another online RPG to the company’s portfolio. Developed by ZhuRong Studio, the game combines an open-world setting with multiplayer and social features, while its AI-powered NPCs received much attention during its promotional campaign.

The publisher also released Where Winds Meet globally in November 2025. Developed by Everstone Studio, the open-world Wuxia action RPG features online multiplayer and social systems. However, NetEase hasn’t confirmed any connection between the game, its developers, or ECC: Redline in the trademark filings.

For now, the applications don’t identify a developer, setting, combat system, release date, or monetization model for the upcoming game. NetEase has yet to provide any details about the name either, so we’ll have to wait for an official announcement to learn what the company has planned.

What would you want to see from a new NetEase MMORPG, and do you think ECC: Redline could be its next major online release? Let us know in the comments below!