Microsoft and NetEase have announced a renewed publishing agreement that will bring popular games like 'World of Warcraft' back to China [b553b02b]. The agreement covers Blizzard's flagship games, including 'World of Warcraft' and 'Hearthstone', as well as other titles in the 'Warcraft', 'Overwatch', 'Diablo', and 'StarCraft' franchises. NetEase was the publisher of Blizzard games in China from 2008 to 2023, and this new partnership marks a reconciliation after a fallout that ended their almost 15-year partnership. The breakup had sparked outcry among Chinese netizens, who lamented the loss of access to their favorite games. Over a million users had even requested refunds for unspent in-game credit. The renewed partnership is not only significant for Microsoft and NetEase but also for NetEase's aspirations to increase its overseas exposure. Following the announcement, NetEase's share price rose by about 2% in Wednesday morning trade [b553b02b].
NetEase Inc. has reached a new agreement with Microsoft Corp.'s Blizzard Entertainment to distribute games in China, reviving titles like World of Warcraft. The Hangzhou-based publishing giant and Microsoft's Activision Blizzard subsidiary had halted their partnership in January of last year after failing to agree on an extension. The deal salvages a 15-year relationship and brings back franchises like StarCraft, Diablo, Hearthstone, and Overwatch for the Chinese gaming market. [9e5267c5]