BLIZZARD,NETEASE GAME PARTNERSHIP IN CHINA TO END

American game developer Blizzard Entertainment said it will suspend most of its game services in mainland China after current licensing agreements with Chinese game company NetEase end, sending NetEase’s shares tumbling.

Blizzard, which partnered with NetEase in 2008 to offer popular games such as World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Diablo in mainland China, said in a statement the two companies did not reach a deal to renew the agreements “that is consistent with Blizzard’s operating principles and commitments to players and employees.”

The partnership is set to expire next January. Blizzard said new sales will be “suspended in the coming days.”

NetEase shares plunged as much as 15% in Hong Kong following the news.

NetEase said the expiration of its licenses with Blizzard would have “no material impact” on the company’s financial results.

The company said revenues and income from the licensed Blizzard games represented “low single digits” as a percentage of NetEase’s total revenues and income last year, and in the first three quarters of 2022.