After the Overwatch-maker and NetEase's complete dissolution following the 14-year deal last year, Blizzard returns to China after a rumored agreement. According to wccftech's report on the matter, NetEase, Blizzard, and Microsoft have now officially announced the completion of their deal. Blizzard titles including World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, and many more will be available again in the country starting summer 2024.
All that being said, these titles will not be released together but will come to the Chinese audience 'sequentially', as also confirmed by Blizzard and NetEase. At the moment, there have been no announcements on which of the games will be released first in China.
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NetEase Brings Back Blizzard to China While Also Signing a Deal with Microsoft
Alongside Blizzard's return to China, NetEase has also signed an agreement with Microsoft, so it can bring its games to the Xbox alongside other platforms. President of Blizzard Entertainment, Johanna Faries, has recently stated that the re-establishment of the partnership is promised to deliver a 'legendary gaming experience.' :
"We are immensely grateful for the passion the Chinese community has shown for Blizzard games throughout the years, and we are focused on bringing our universes back to players with excellence and dedication."
William Ding, the Chief Executive Officer and Director at NetEase has added that they are keen to celebrate the collaborations, as they are thrilled to embark on the journey together which includes trust and mutual respect. In his statement, Ding added:
" Our commitment to providing more exhilarating and creative entertainment experience 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."
Lastly, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming also did not shy away from adding a few words to this re-establishment, as he added:
"Blizzard and NetEase have done incredible work to renew our commitment to players – Blizzard’s universes have been part of players’ lives in the region for many years. 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."
China harbors a massive gaming audience as the region is known for being vastly invested in the media. With the agreement still undergoing a few formalities, the Chinese audience is undoubtedly excited to have some of their favorite games back.