Microsoft has announced that it will be bringing popular games like World of Warcraft back to the Chinese market this summer. This comes after a 14-year partnership between NetEase and Activision Blizzard ended due to a disagreement over intellectual property control. The Chinese government requires all games to have a local publisher and licenses, which caused concern among Chinese gamers about losing access to their favorite games.
The legal feud between NetEase and Activision Blizzard resulted in tensions easing when Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $69 billion in October last year. This paved the way for the return of franchises like Hearthstone, Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft to the Chinese market. China is the largest online gaming market globally, with domestic revenue reaching 303 billion yuan last year, making it a crucial market for video game companies.
Microsoft and NetEase have also agreed to explore bringing new NetEase titles to Microsoft’s Xbox gaming consoles and other platforms. This partnership demonstrates a commitment to expanding access to games for players worldwide. Despite previous restrictions imposed by Chinese authorities on online gaming, recent announcements suggest a more lenient approach, with a focus on balancing gaming with other aspects of life.
