NetEase will channel funds to a real-life giant panda and more conservation efforts in the next three years.
The team behind the open-world ARPG Where Winds Meet is celebrating its upcoming Qinchuan update by taking its Jianghu chivalry beyond the screen and into the wilderness, as NetEase has revealed a three-year sponsorship for a real-life giant panda–also named Qinchuan–alongside additional conservation efforts!
Did Where Winds Meet's developer adopt a panda?
This wholesome initiative follows the success of the “Echoes Across the World” event earlier this month, during which the game achieved an impressive 100 million “resonances”, according to NetEase.
“In honour of the incredible display of community solidarity, the game decided to transform this virtual power into meaningful real-world impact by supporting the conservation of the giant panda in the name of wanderers worldwide,” the company stated.
In collaboration with the Shaanxi Rare Wild Animal Rescue Base, NetEase will fund the daily care of Qinchuan, an 18-year-old male Giant Panda currently residing at the Qinling Giant Panda Research Center.
The giant panda, a species endemic to China, was once classified as endangered. Although conservation efforts have significantly improved its status, the species remains classified as “Vulnerable” due to threats such as climate change, habitat loss, and deforestation.
Qinchuan is notably part of the rarer Qinling Panda subspecies, which has become a particular focus of conservation programmes in recent years.
NetEase’s three-year commitment will also support critical operations at the Qinling Giant Panda Center as part of a broader initiative to help preserve the species. This includes funding for feeding programmes, specialised breeding initiatives, wildlife rescue operations, infrastructure improvements, public education, and scientific research.
Qinchuan in Where Winds Meet release date
The charitable sponsorship arrives ahead of the game’s third and final Hexi expansion, “Qinchuan”, which is scheduled to launch tomorrow, 30 April.
In this chapter, players can expect more than 100 hours of gameplay featuring a dynamic four-season map, a new Mystic Skill called “Idle Wind”, and a host of fresh challenges that will help piece together the final mysteries of the campaign.
“As they navigate this living landscape, players can take pride in knowing that their journey contributes to the preservation of a real-world treasure,” NetEase stated.
Watch the Where Winds Meet Qinchuan preview trailer below:
