In early April this year, Blizzard Entertainment, Microsoft and NetEase Games announcedUpdate cooperation agreementAfter confirming that all Blizzard Entertainment games, including "World of Warcraft", will return to the Chinese market this summer, NetEase Games and Blizzard Entertainment announced during the ChinaJoy 2024 event held in Shanghai earlier that the server version of "World of Warcraft" will be re-launched in the Chinese market on August 8, and the expansion pack "War for the Core" will also be launched in the Chinese market simultaneously with the global market. "Hearthstone" is also confirmed to return to the Chinese market.
The news was announced by World of Warcraft executive producer Holly Longdale, World of Warcraft game director Ion Hazzikostas and Hearthstone executive producer Nathan Lyons-Smith at the ChinaJoy 2024 event, but specific details will still be announced later.
At the ChinaJoy 2024 event, NetEase Games and Blizzard Entertainment also exhibited together on site, showing Blizzard Entertainment's game characters and providing the latest expansion pack of "World of Warcraft" "War to the Core", "Hearthstone", "Overwatch" and other game works in the on-site trial game area, showing that Blizzard Entertainment has returned to the Chinese market by cooperating with NetEase Games again.
In a previous announcement, NetEase Games stated that Blizzard Entertainment's games will be released sequentially, with the first returning game expected to debut this summer. When the servers are up and running, account data will be fully preserved. The company will also provide opportunities to re-access previously suspended activities and benefits. Celebrating the return of the game will also be prepared, along with various esports tournaments.
