Rumors: Blizzard and NetEase Reunite
Blizzard and NetEase are reportedly rekindling their once-broken partnership.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Blizzard and NetEase rumored to be rekindling their partnership after a major fallout in 2022 and early 2023.
- Blizzard has been engaging in discussions with various publishers and finally chose to collaborate with NetEase again.
- 2023 was an eventful year for Blizzard, starting with the broken partnership with NetEase, and ending with being acquired by Microsoft and the departure of Bobby Kotick. Along the way were many lawsuits and the shutdown of Blizzard’s major esports league.
The Fallout of Blizzard and NetEase
The Blizzard and NetEase fallout emerged as a major controversy in 2022 and early 2023. Blizzard’s gaming services were suspended in China. And in January 2023, tensions heightened as matters escalated. NetEase broadcasted the destruction of Blizzard’s offices for the whole world to see. The event included demolishing iconic items such as a local Orc statue and the Gorehowl replica. And NetEase even took a step further by distributing ‘Blizzard Green Tea’ as a reward to those involved in the vandalism.
What Is NetEase’s Blizzard Green Tea?
In China, “green tea” is often used to describe someone who pretends to be innocent and moral but is actually manipulative and deceitful. In this case, NetEase was attributing these traits to Blizzard.
After all that, one would naturally think there’s no return for the 15-year partnership between Blizzard and NetEase. Yet, as 2023 draws to a close, rumors arise that the two gaming giants are possibly reconciling.
Blizzard and Netease May Reunite in a New Partnership
Dexerto reports that Blizzard is looking to reenter the billion-player market. The company has been in discussions with various Chinese game publishers. And, ultimately, they have chosen to collaborate with NetEase once again. If this turns out to be a reality, it would bring significant joy to Blizzard’s fanbase in China. After all, local servers for popular titles such as Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Starcraft are on the horizon.
The year 2023 has been filled with events for Blizzard. The year began with the fallout with NetEase and culminated in the acquisition by Microsoft and the departure of CEO Bobby Kotick. Along the way were many lawsuits. And the end of the year also witnessed the shutdown of Blizzard’s major esports league. Nevertheless, Blizzard has been holding up quite well, especially in the World of Warcraft title. The company’s prompt responsiveness and commitment to addressing player feedback have earned widespread acclaim from fans. With things looking bright for Blizzard, who knows? Maybe we will see their titles return to China soon.
Comments