NetEase and Blizzard Entertainment Renew Partnership, World of Warcraft Set to Return to China

NetEase, a leading Chinese internet technology company, has recently announced its renewed partnership with Blizzard Entertainment, a renowned video game developer. This exciting development means that beloved titles like World of Warcraft and Hearthstone will be returning to the Chinese market starting this summer. The news has been met with great enthusiasm from both the gaming community and industry professionals alike.

Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase Join Hands Again

The new publishing deal between Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase signifies their commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences to players in mainland China. This renewed agreement will cover a range of games that Chinese players had access to under the previous partnership. This includes popular titles such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and games from the Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft universes. Both companies are working diligently on relaunch plans and will be sharing further details at a later date.

NetEase's CEO, William Ding, expressed his excitement about the renewed partnership, stating, "Our commitment to providing more exhilarating and creative entertainment experiences remains unwavering, and we are excited to see positive synergies fostered to encourage and empower collaborations to bring the joy of gaming to a broad community."

Microsoft Gaming and NetEase Broaden Collaboration

In addition to the partnership between Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase, Microsoft Gaming has also entered into an agreement with NetEase to explore bringing new NetEase titles to Xbox consoles and other platforms. This strategic collaboration between the two companies aims to bring new gaming experiences to players across different platforms and markets.

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, emphasized the commitment to expanding their game library, stating, "Returning Blizzard's legendary games to players in China while exploring ways to bring more new titles to Xbox demonstrates our commitment to bringing more games to more players around the world."

Rebuilding Bridges

While this renewed partnership is undoubtedly exciting news, it is important to note that it comes after a period of breakdown in cooperation between Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase. Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was rumored to be a catalyst for this breakdown, leading to failed negotiations. However, changes made through Microsoft's acquisition appear to have paved the way for a renewal in their relationship.

The breakdown in negotiations was initially announced in November 2022, and it resulted in Blizzard China officially shutting down in January 2023. Many players had to reroll their accounts in new regions, such as Taiwan, in order to continue playing the game. This meant starting from scratch and losing progress, collections, and achievements earned in previous expansions. As the partnership between Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase is reestablished, players are now faced with the challenge of reconciling their frozen accounts and deciding how to move forward.

• What Comes Next?

While the return of beloved Blizzard titles to mainland China is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, players are left wondering what happens next. One pressing issue is the lack of a transfer process to bring their new accounts back to China or merge them with their existing accounts. This means players must reclaim accounts that have been left frozen since Patch 10.0.5, with the unfortunate loss of any progress made since then.

As the gaming community eagerly awaits further updates and relaunch plans, players will need to consider their options and decide whether to start anew or find a way to reconcile their previous and new accounts. One thing is for sure; the return of Blizzard Entertainment games to China will undoubtedly create new adventures and experiences for players in the region.

And as players embark on their new gaming journeys, the question remains, who will rebuild the statue that stands as a symbol of this renewed collaboration?