The9 and EA Announce Equity Investment and Exclusive Publishing Agreement for EA SPORTS FIFA Online in Mainland China

The9 and EA Announce Equity Investment and Exclusive Publishing Agreement for EA SPORTS FIFA Online in Mainland China

May 21, 2007

Strategic Partnership with EA to Expand The9's Offering in
China's Online Gaming Market

    SHANGHAI, China and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 21
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (Nasdaq: NCTY)
("The9"), a leading online game operator in
China, today announced an equity investment by Electronic
Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS) ("EA"), the world's
leading developer and publisher of interactive
entertainment.  The two companies also announced a
licensing agreement that gives The9 exclusive publishing
rights for EA SPORTS FIFA Online in mainland China.  Upon
completion of the equity investment, EA will own
approximately 15 percent of the common shares of The9.  The
investment is roughly US$167 million.
    The agreement builds on EA's strategy of partnering
with proven regional operators to bring online games to
Asia, and The9's strategy of expanding its game product
offerings in the Chinese market. 
    EA SPORTS FIFA is EA's leading international sports
franchise and is seeing early online success in Asia.  Last
year, EA and Seoul-based Neowiz partnered to launch EA
SPORTS FIFA Online in Korea, now one of Korea's most
popular games, consistently ranked among top performers
with more than 4.4 million registered subscribers,
according to EA's company data.  The9 has exclusive
publishing rights for the game in mainland China. 
    "EA will be a strong partner for us in the rapidly
expanding online game market in China," said Jun Zhu,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The9. "We are
seeing strong interest in online sports games in China with
the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in
2010, and FIFA Online is set to be a top favorite in the
Chinese market."
    Hubert Larenaudie, President, EA Asia Online, said,
"This is another significant step in EA's strategy to
build an online presence in Asia.  The9's proven expertise
will be a tremendous advantage in bringing FIFA Online to a
growing market and we look forward to partnering with them
to bring the best online football gaming experience to
millions of Chinese gamers and football fans."

    About The9 Limited
    The9 Limited is a leading online game operator in
China.  The9's business is primarily focused on operating
and developing high-quality games for the Chinese online
game players market.  The9 directly or through affiliates
operates licensed MMORPGs, consisting of MU(R), Blizzard
Entertainment(R)'s World of Warcraft(R), Soul of The
Ultimate Nation(TM), and its first proprietary MMORPG,
Joyful Journey West(TM), in mainland China.  It has also
obtained exclusive licenses to operate additional MMORPGs
and advanced casual games in China, including Granado
Espada, Guild Wars, Hellgate: London, Ragnarok Online 2,
Emil Chronicle Online, Huxley, and FIFA Online.  In
addition, The9 is also working on the development of a 3D
fantasy MMORPG game, Fantastic Melody Online(TM).

    About Electronic Arts
    Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood
City, California, is the world's leading interactive
entertainment software company.  Founded in 1982, the
company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive
software worldwide for video game systems, personal
computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic
Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA
SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM).  In
fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24
titles that sold more than one million copies.  EA's
homepage and online game site is http://www.ea.com .  More
information about EA's products and full text of press
releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com
.
    EA SPORTS FIFA Online is manufactured under license by
Electronic Arts. 

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. 
These statements are made under the "safe harbor"
provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements can be
identified by terminology such as "will,"
"expects," "anticipates,"
"future," "intends," "plans,"
"believes," "estimates" and similar
statements.  Among other things, the business outlook and
quotations from management in this press release contain
forward-looking statements.  The9 may also make written or
oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 20-F
and 6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in
press releases and other written materials and in oral
statements made by its officers, directors or employees to
third parties.  Statements that are not historical facts,
including statements about The9's beliefs and expectations,
are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements
involve inherent risks and uncertainties.  A number of
important factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement.  Potential risks and uncertainties include, but
are not limited to, The9's limited operating history as an
online game operator, political and economic policies of
the Chinese government, the laws and regulations governing
the online game industry, information disseminated over the
Internet and Internet content providers in China,
intensified government regulation of Internet cafes, The9's
ability to retain existing players and attract new players,
license, develop or acquire additional online games that
are appealing to users, anticipate and adapt to changing
consumer preferences and respond to competitive market
conditions, and other risks and uncertainties outlined in
The9's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, including its annual reports on Form 20-F. 
The9 does not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statement, except as required under
applicable law.

   Safe Harbor For Forward-Looking Statements
    Some statements set forth in this release, including
those regarding EA's investment in, and its publishing
agreement with, The9, growth in the online games market in
Asia, and the expected impact of the investment and
agreements on EA's strategic and operational plans and
financial results, contain forward-looking statements that
are subject to change. Statements including words such as
"anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate" or "expect" and statements
in the future tense are forward-looking statements.  These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual events or actual
future results to differ materially from the expectations
set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Some of the
factors which could cause results to differ materially from
the expectations expressed in these forward-looking
statements include the following: the satisfaction of
customary closing conditions; the possibility that the
investment and/or publishing agreement will not be
consummated or that the consummation may be delayed; the
effect of the announcement of the investment and agreements
on EA's and The9's strategic relationships, operating
results and business generally, including the ability to
retain key employees; The9's limited operating history as
an online game operator; political and economic policies of
the Chinese government; the laws and regulations governing
the online game industry, information disseminated over the
Internet and Internet content providers in China;
intensified government regulation of Internet cafes in
China; The9's ability to retain existing players and
attract new players, anticipate and adapt to changing
consumer preferences and respond to competitive market
conditions; general economic conditions; and other factors
described in EA's SEC filings (including EA's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2006 and Quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
2006).  If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize,
the investment and/or publishing agreement may not be
consummated or may not be consummated on the anticipated
terms, the potential benefits of the investment and
agreement may not be realized, EA's operating results and
financial performance could suffer, and actual results
could differ materially from the expectations described in
these forward-looking statements.  EA assumes no obligation
to update these forward-looking statements which speak only
as of the date of this press release.

    For further information, please contact:

     Dahlia Wei
     Senior Manager, Investor Relations
     The9 Limited
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]
     Webs:  http://www.corp.the9.com/

     Jeff Brown
     EA Corporate
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Tiffany Steckler
     EA International
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Tricia Gugler
     EA Investor Relations
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]