Blizzard Entertainment announced at the end of last yearEndThe company has extended its partnership with its Chinese market partner, NetEase Games. However, as it continues to fail to find a suitable new partner to take over the operation of games in the Chinese market, it seems possible that the company may resume cooperation with NetEase Games.
According to information obtained by 36Kr from multiple sources, Blizzard Entertainment has chosen to re-cooperate with NetEase Games after unsuccessful cooperation negotiations with several Chinese companies. If all goes well, Blizzard Entertainment's games will be able to be played normally in the Chinese market again as early as 2024.
According to relevant information, considering that the relevant systems and servers need to be rebuilt, the earliest time players can play Blizzard Entertainment games again may be half a year or later.
Although Blizzard Entertainment believed that NetEase Games failed to meet its required operating principles and commitments to players and employees, and therefore decided to terminate the partnership, after Activision Blizzard was officially acquired by Microsoft, coupled with Microsoft's emphasis on the development of the Chinese market, Blizzard Entertainment has obviously considered cooperating with NetEase again.
However, if Blizzard Entertainment previously ended its cooperation with NetEase Games, or even NetEase Games sold it to Blizzard Entertainment,bring the action, accusing it of refusing to refund Chinese players and owing them up to RMB 3 million. Judging from the situation, if Blizzard Entertainment wants to restore its cooperative relationship with NetEase Games, it may have to accept the conditions proposed by NetEase Games.
