Blizzard Will Suspend World of Warcraft In China Because of Licensing Dispute

Blizzard will suspend games in China because it can't reach an agreement with its licensing and publishing partner NetEase, it said in a press release. World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch 2, Starcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Diablo III, and Warcraft III: Reforged won't be available in China after January 23, 2023. The Verge reports: Blizzard will suspend the sale of games and offer guidance to Chinese players "in the coming days," according to the press release, which did not offer a specific timeline. Development of Diablo Immortal is in a separate agreement and will continue, NetEase said in a statement. Upcoming releases, including the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Dragonflight, and the second season of Overwatch 2, "will proceed later this year," according to Blizzard. "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," said Blizzard Entertainment president Mike Ybarra in the press release. "We are looking for alternatives to bring our games back to players in the future."

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