The sporting spotlight has shifted to the 2026 Asian Games, which officially commenced recently, and two self-developed Chinese original competitive titles from NetEase are poised to make their historic debut on this continental stage. As the only e-sports event at this year's Games centered on Chinese-style martial arts, the Naraka: Bladepoint competition will kick off first from September 23rd to 24th, with the Chinese team aiming to secure the nation's first e-sports gold medal of the Games. Meanwhile, Identity V, which holds the distinction of being the first asymmetrical competitive event in Asian Games history, will see its Asian Games version played from September 28th to 30th.
In the already concluded e-sports qualifying rounds for the Asian Games, the Chinese teams emerged victorious in both of these titles with flawless undefeated records, securing their spots in the official tournament. This edition of the Asian Games e-sports program features 11 contest events in total, with each of NetEase's two original intellectual properties claiming one of those slots. Naraka: Bladepoint is the only e-sports project at these Games that prominently features Eastern martial arts, integrating martial arts techniques and philosophy into competitive combat. It boasts unique mechanics like parry counters and grappling hook displacement, effectively translating traditional martial arts into the digital realm. In contrast, Identity V stands as the first asymmetrical competitive game in Asian Games history, captivating a large base of loyal players worldwide with its distinctive art style and deep, intricate backstory.
During the earlier e-sports qualifiers, both events drew participation from numerous representative teams across Asia. The Identity V Asian Games version qualifiers saw 16 countries and regions compete, from which 9 teams advanced to the final stage. The Chinese team remained undefeated throughout the qualifiers, earning the title of 'Best Team' of the qualifying stage. The Naraka: Bladepoint qualifiers brought together 15 Asian countries and regions, with only 8 teams successfully breaking through to the finals. The Chinese team, with a string of consecutive victories, also topped its group to secure qualification smoothly. As the main tournament approaches, the Chinese team for the Identity V Asian Games version will be led by coach Zhu Tianlong, with athletes Shi Xiangwei, Lu Shujia, Sun Le, Chen Mingming, Lu Yahui, Mu Xinyue (female), and Fan Siqi taking to the field. For the Naraka: Bladepoint event, coach Weng Bo will guide the Chinese team, consisting of athletes Sui Xiangyun, Tan Xujie, Wang Tongrong, Wang Feng, and Xu Kunbin.
According to the official Asian Games schedule, the e-sports events for this year's Games will run from September 22nd to October 2nd, 2026. Specifically, the Naraka: Bladepoint competition is slated for September 23rd and 24th, while the Identity V Asian Games version is scheduled from September 28th to 30th. Looking at the broader competitive ecosystem, NetEase's Identity V has developed a mature dual-track tournament system both domestically and internationally. Within China, it runs the IVL professional league, which has established a comprehensive framework for youth training, professional play, and promotion. Overseas, the focus has been on localized operations, successfully incubating high-profile regional leagues like the IJL professional league in Japan, cultivating a wealth of top-tier international players and clubs. The annual COA (Call of the Abyss) global finals bring together 20 elite teams from six major regions worldwide to compete. On the other hand, Naraka: Bladepoint offers the Jinbei Cup National Tournament aimed at general players, paving the way for grassroots e-sports advancement. The top-tier domestic NBPL professional league serves as the core arena for honing domestic players' skills, and the prestigious Jue Cup World Championship covers 30 countries and regions across five major zones, attracting over 90 million unique viewers during its 2024 edition.
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