Blizzard, the renowned game developer, is accusing NetEase of the impending shutdown of its games in China next week. Contrary to initial expectations, the company does not see the Chinese government as the culprit.
Contract expires
It has been known since December 2020 that Blizzard's 14-year contract with NetEase will expire. This means that new sales of the company will be suspended in China. Blizzard had announced at the time that it would find a solution, which so far has not materialized. In order to continue sales and playing in general, a new Chinese publishing partner must be found who meets the stricter requirements of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Since this has not yet happened, all Blizzard games will be shut down in China on January 23. A solution for the game progress of the players has also not yet been found.
This development could be a big financial loss for Blizzard. However, the company emphasizes that it is trying to find a solution to resume sales and playing of its games in China. We will follow the developments and update you with new information as soon as it is available.
