Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. ( a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. “Their enthusiasm and creativity inspire us, and we are looking for alternatives to bring our games back to players in the future.”īest known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft ®, Overwatch ®, Diablo ®, and StarCraft ®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. “We’re immensely grateful for the passion our Chinese community has shown throughout the nearly 20 years we’ve been bringing our games to China through NetEase and other partners,” said Mike Ybarra, president, Blizzard Entertainment. Upcoming releases for World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, Hearthstone: March of the Lich King, and season 2 of Overwatch 2 will proceed later this year. We will suspend new sales in the coming days and Chinese players will be receiving details of how this will work soon.

The two parties have not reached a deal to renew the agreements that is consistent with Blizzard’s operating principles and commitments to players and employees, and the agreements are set to expire in January 2023.

Diablo Immortal ® co-development and publishing is covered under a separate agreement between the two companies.īlizzard Entertainment has had licensing agreements with NetEase since 2008, covering the publication of these Blizzard titles in China. This includes World of Warcraft ®, Hearthstone ®, Warcraft ® III: Reforged, Overwatch ®, the StarCraft ® series, Diablo III ®, and Heroes of the Storm ®. announced today that it will be suspending most Blizzard game services in mainland China due to the expiration of the current licensing agreements with NetEase, Inc.

Certain games will no longer be available at end of license with NetEase on January 23, 2023

Diablo immortal cancelled