NetEase and Blizzard Announce Reunion: Iconic Games “World of Warcraft” and “Hearthstone” to Return to China
The gaming industry is abuzz with the exciting news that Chinese tech giant NetEase and California-based Blizzard Entertainment have reunited after a tumultuous separation. The two companies, known for their significant contributions to the gaming world, announced their collaboration on Wednesday, bringing joy to millions of fans in China who had been left heartbroken following their split in 2023.
The partnership will mark the return of several popular Blizzard games to China, including “World of Warcraft” and “Hearthstone,” as well as other titles from the Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft universes. The joint statement was shared on NetEase Games’ official Weibo account.
“World of Warcraft,” or “WoW,” is a massively popular contact multiplayer game where players traverse the medieval world of Azeroth to fight monsters and embark on expeditions. The companies have revealed that these games will begin returning to the Chinese market “sequentially” starting this summer, with additional details to be shared at a later date.
William Ding, CEO and Director of NetEase, expressed his excitement for the new chapter in their relationship, built on trust and mutual respect. Blizzard and NetEase had previously agreed to terminate their 15-year partnership due to unresolved disagreements, leaving the gaming community in China disheartened.
In a separate agreement, Microsoft Gaming and NetEase have also joined forces to explore bringing new titles by the Chinese company to Xbox consoles. Following Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard, the world’s biggest video game developer, in 2023, this collaboration marks an opportunity to expand the reach of NetEase games and strengthen their presence in the global gaming market.
Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, shared his enthusiasm for bringing Blizzard’s legendary games back to players in China and exploring the potential for new titles on Xbox consoles.
China has been cracking down on its gaming industry in recent years, with a focus on addressing concerns over gaming addiction among young people. In 2021, new regulations were implemented, barring contact gamers under the age of 18 from playing on weekdays and limiting their weekend playtime to three hours. The move was part of a broader effort by Beijing to regulate and curb the power of influential companies in various industries, including gaming.
With this latest development, fans of these iconic games can look forward to reconnecting with their favorite titles and exploring new adventures. The partnership between NetEase and Blizzard is poised to bring excitement to the gaming community in China and beyond, as both companies continue to shape the future of the industry.
