NetEase has recently announced the revival of Blizzard’s games in China, after a hiatus since the beginning of 2023. The games to be reintroduced by NetEase to Chinese gamers are classics such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, with a tentative launch date in mid-summer.
This partnership also involves collaboration with Microsoft Gaming, the parent company of Blizzard, to bring NetEase’s original PC games to the Xbox console and other platforms. NetEase had been providing Blizzard’s games in China since 2008, but after 15 years, the two companies faced difficulties in renewing their agreement, leading to NetEase ceasing operations for over a year.
The return of Blizzard games to China is expected to benefit from the backing of Microsoft Gaming as the new owner of Blizzard, aiding in successful negotiations. Our shared worlds are open to all, including our dedicated Chinese community, and we are grateful for their patience and support throughout this process.
TLDR: NetEase and Blizzard have reestablished their partnership to bring back Blizzard games to China, with Microsoft Gaming’s involvement leading to potential success in negotiations.
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