Blizzard Entertainment Games to Relaunch in China with NetEase

NetEase Inc. and Blizzard Entertainment have announced a new deal to resume the distribution of popular Blizzard games in China, including titles such as World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Hearthstone, Diablo, and Overwatch.

[{"selector":"#anim-8f42aca4-aa87-4485-b5ba-51021056156d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

This deal comes after a hiatus caused by unsuccessful negotiations in early 2022, allowing Chinese gamers access to their favorite Blizzard games once again.

[{"selector":"#anim-6e9e2ea5-d3f3-461f-b46d-b0b1447f7f20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

NetEase's stock price increased, reflecting positive investor sentiment about the return of Blizzard's games to the Chinese market.

[{"selector":"#anim-02fff3ee-efd1-4a8d-92e1-95e7b8bd2c97","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The agreement also explores potential opportunities to launch new NetEase games on Microsoft’s Xbox and other platforms, expanding their gaming ecosystem.

[{"selector":"#anim-ddc6452a-be64-40bc-8852-73ead21acc87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

William Ding, CEO of NetEase, emphasized the commitment to the gaming community, highlighting the importance of mutual respect and dedicated support to rebuild trust among players.

[{"selector":"#anim-297f1ca7-0a53-4a23-b440-30965896e062","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Blizzard plans to reintroduce its games to the Chinese market starting in the summer, with a detailed schedule to be announced later. This phased approach aims to ensure a smooth transition and resolve any technical challenges.

[{"selector":"#anim-66cef06d-8562-4b32-91a8-826eb2b18327","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The companies are addressing technical issues, such as reorganizing server infrastructure and data recovery, to ensure a seamless gaming experience upon the service's reinstatement.

[{"selector":"#anim-b9f3e5e1-7c67-40ff-93a8-1b0fc163193e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

This deal is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy following its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, aiming to bolster its global gaming footprint and enhance gaming experiences collaboratively.

[{"selector":"#anim-ec4254f3-5e63-4815-8c9b-d13502c87392","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The agreement marks a significant step in revitalizing partnerships and broadening the range of games available in the Chinese market

[{"selector":"#anim-d381f669-d2c6-4406-8e54-37d7bf885e6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]