Blizzard Entertainment is terminating its partnership with NetEase, causingWorld of Warcraftplayers in China to lose access to their Battle.net account and all its associated games, but a recent statement from Blizzard sheds some further light on the situation and reveals the plan going forward. The last time Blizzard changed its partners in China was during the final days ofThe Burning Crusade.As a result, Chinese players only got access toWrath of the Lich Kingand its Death Knightsalmost a full year after the global launch.
The ramifications ofBlizzard suspending its game services in Chinawas felt almost immediately acrossWorld of Warcraftservers, as Chinese refugees flocked to other regions in a frenzied panic. Though players had a chance to enjoy their adventures on the Dragon Isles, their time in Dragonflight will be cut short on August 03, 2025. The reason why Blizzard chose to part ways with NetEase remains a mystery, but it’s public knowledge that Activision Blizzard has struggled to establish a foothold in the Chinese market, with only theCall of Dutyfranchise finding moderate success.
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In an attempt to soothe the situation,Warcraft’s General Manager John Hight released a statement on Weibo, clarifying that the suspension was only temporary, and that Blizzard was working hard to bringWorld of Warcraftback to China after January 23. Though Activision Blizzard has remained in touch with potential partners to replace NetEase as the company’s new distributor, Hight explained that each Battle.net account and its associatedWorld of Warcraftcharacterswould not only be preserved during the suspension, but that the data would be given directly into the hands of the players.
While the decision to giveWorld of Warcraftplayers access to their character opens up the possibility for foul play, it’s very likely that Blizzard was forced into this decision due to Chinese laws regarding the transfer of personal customer information between companies. Character and account data being saved on one’s computer, phone, or other device may allow unscrupulous players to modify the files to their benefit, meaning that the full ramification of this situation won’t be felt until Blizzard’s game service in China comes back online.
It’s no secret that players all over the globe have been enjoying the new expansion, and withDragonflight’s Vault of the Incarnates raidslowly opening up across allWorld of Warcraftregions, fans will finally get the full experience of all the content the Dragon Isles can provide. Though Chinese players will be allowed to participate in the first two months ofDragonflightSeason 1, hopefully they will get to rejoin their brethren after the suspension in January very soon.
World of Warcraft: Dragonflightis available now for PC.
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