15 months after a licensing spat, Blizzard and NetEase make up to bring games like Diablo, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft back to China
Blizzard games are set to return to China in a new licensing agreement, well over a year after games like Diablo 4 and World of Warcraft exited the country after Blizzard and NetEase failed to reach an agreement.
Back in November 2022, it was reported that Blizzard games would leave China in January 2023 due to Blizzard and NetEase being unable to renew the licensing agreement between the two companies. Diablo, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Starcraft, and Heroes of the Storm all departed mainland China as of January 2023, well over a year ago at this point.
Today, April 10, Blizzard and NetEase have announced a brand new licensing agreement for the distribution of Blizzard-made games in China. "After continuing discussions over the past year, both Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase are thrilled to align on a path forward to once again support players in mainland China and are proud to reaffirm their commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences," the two companies announce.
Our legendary worlds are for all to share & that includes our passionate Chinese community.We are pleased to announce a new agreement with NetEase to bring Blizzard games back to mainland China. Thank you for your patience & support.
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