NetEase, a prominent Chinese video games company, announced its collaboration with Microsoft to reintroduce popular games such as “World of Warcraft” to the Chinese market. This move follows a public rift that terminated a decade-long partnership in 2023.
In a joint press release issued on Wednesday, the two companies stated their intention to reintroduce games developed by Blizzard Entertainment, a subsidiary of U.S. gaming giant Activision Blizzard, which Microsoft acquired last year. The rollout is scheduled to commence this summer, marking a return to the world’s second-largest economy. Notably, NetEase served as the publisher for Blizzard’s games in China from 2008 to 2023.
“We at Blizzard are thrilled to reestablish our partnership with NetEase and to work together, with a deep appreciation for the collaboration between our teams, to deliver legendary gaming experiences to players in China,” said Johanna Faries, president of Blizzard Entertainment.
Furthermore, Microsoft and NetEase have announced an agreement to explore the possibilities of introducing new titles from NetEase to Microsoft’s Xbox gaming consoles and other gaming platforms it operates.
Last year, several popular online games developed by Blizzard were removed from availability in China. This action followed the termination of a lucrative partnership of 14 years between Blizzard and NetEase. The dissolution of the partnership was attributed to disagreements over intellectual property control.
The dispute between the two companies escalated into a public feud, leading to reciprocal lawsuits. However, tensions began to subside following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October. Subsequent changes in the management of Activision Blizzard further contributed to easing the strained relationship between the companies.
