Blizzard Switches World of Warcraft Partner in China

Posted by Juggynaut on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 - 46 Comments

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In press release earlier today, Blizzard announced that, in China, World of Warcraft will be licensed to NetEase.com, who already has the rights to operate both Starcraft II and Diablo III. Once Blizzard’s current deal with The9 expires in June, NetEase will take over the operation of WoW in China, with further details to be announced on their website. According to a VentureBeat article, that means Blizzard’s cut of revenue from WoW in China will increase from about $50 million per year over $140 million per year, almost purely profit. It will be interesting to see if this means that Wrath of the Lich King will be coming soon for China, because they still have yet to see it released.

This is a reminder of how, although WoW is a huge and global game, we aren’t even able to interact in game with nearly everyone due to restrictions like different regions, languages, and servers that the game is played on. In the Totally Rad Guild, we have people from all over the United States, Canada, Australia, and probably more that I don’t even know about. So how about you guys - where are you gaming from?

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Related Posts: WoW China: Servers Down for 3 to 6 Weeks, (Censored) World of Warcraft Returns To China, WoW China Can’t Catch a Break, Sam Raimi Signs On to Direct World of Warcraft Movie, Chinese Company Challenges Gender-Bending In MMOs,

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Comments

    By Virago on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    the Netherlands here

    By Mark DeMan on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    I have an account in the EU on Daggerspine and another in Taiwan, Nightsong server.

    Taiwan is treated as an independent gaming region, it is not part of China, gaming wise or in any other way for that matter, so we have the Full blown version of WotLK up and running since a month after the US and the EU.
    We get the Foresaken in full gut wrenching glory! Bones and Zombies are not a taboo here! Bring it on!!

    I have to play here because of lag on the EU server from this location. I am from Ireland.

    I had to learn how to figure out things since everything is in Mandarin, and Project lore is life saver, as I cannot read missions here.

    When the boss changes phase or emotes, I have to guess what on earth is happening! It can be hilarious! PL has give me a window to understand more about what I am doing.

    Sultan, 80 Prot Palladin, Nightsong, Taiwan, FTW!!

    By Lee Andrew on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    England and Germany, depends where I am working.

    By gron on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    Mexico but i play on US server :D and english version i hate the spanish version

    By Mizos on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    USA here i play on the US version =p

    By Moko on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Hey, I’m from your lovely america’s red hat, CANADA. :D
    We should have canadian servers just because of the hate we get from ppl on warcraft lol.

    By Elwero on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    It’s really cool that China has accepted WoW, maybe Blizzard will start thinking about putting the Panderaen in their next expansion or patch ;D

    México, spanish version.

    Quel’thalas > Bengue orc rogue
    Ragnaros > Elwero dwarf DK

    By Akantor on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    Puertorrican here, we got a lot of people all over the servers, I sometimes wonder if we r spreading too thin. Nonetheless, good job PL.

    By ian on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    Australia on barthalis
    and we have lots of Americans and ppl who speak languages i cant guess

    By Aadjed on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    Holland here, playing on azjol nerub server. lvl80 resto drood

    By Bluey_74 on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    Adelaide Australia, on Aman Thul.
    My guild has some americans, ( aussie ex pats) and god knows where else!.

    Would love to see Australia get its own server, the lag sometimes is a real killer!

    Ive learnt heap from PL, gratz on the streamy!

    Arkaziel, Rret pal, lvl73. Arman thul

    By Arig on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 11:51 pm

    Denmark here. playing on Emerald Dream ( EU ). lvl 80 undead mage.

    By weber on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 1:17 am

    Romania here, playing on Azuremyst EU, lvl 80 Draenei shaman , takin’ a break now for studys thoo

    By Drakk on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 1:48 am

    Belgium!

    Bloodscalp EU
    Ret/Prot Paladin

    By Xian on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 2:38 am

    Blackwater Raiders server, US

    By Scott on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 2:45 am

    Englan playing on the EU server - Moonglade :D

    By Slyfanitor on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 2:53 am

    Finland ftw!
    Nordrassil (EU)

    By Bveryon on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 3:50 am

    Im gaming from england, but on my server (Aszune EU Alliance) Most of the raiding guild im in at the moment are from Sweden/Norway/England but you get odd people from France/Malta/Finland etc

    By Warfather on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 4:17 am

    Im playing from Sweden XD

    Outland server EU

    By Fuclya on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 4:43 am

    Denmark, Bornholm on server Wildhammer (EU)

    Combat Rouge 80 Living Legends (Alliance)

    By Muradun on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 4:47 am

    Finland here :D
    Laughing Skull EU

    By Reeves - Terokkar EU on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 4:50 am

    Liverpool, UK for me :) my guild (Dragonslayers) has a really wide variety of players, mostly from mainland europe. Though we have 2 australians and an american too :D Makes for some great chatter amongst TS.

    By Halrogh on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 5:02 am

    awwww, Gold farmers can’t get into WotLK without hacking accounts QQ.

    By zicoundead on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 5:06 am

    Chile, Quel’Thalas (US, Latin American server).

    Keep the good work guys.

    By Narmilo on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 5:07 am

    Romania here. Azuremyst EU.

    By Vaesion on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 5:15 am

    Canada here! :D
    playing on Bleeding Hollow!

    By gatis on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 5:31 am

    Latvia reporting in :)

    By Cj0645 on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 5:45 am

    England here =)

    By Pruben on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 5:56 am

    I’m playing from Norway :)
    Skullcrusher (EU)

    By Madeinisrael on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 5:58 am

    I’m from Israel, most of my guild is English. some are from Belguim, and the rest, I haven’t bothered asking :P

    Kul Tiras EU

    By Priogirul on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 6:42 am

    I play from England on the EU server - Dragonblight.
    For the Horde!

    By boolas on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 6:55 am

    Poland here :D EU FTW! :D

    By Gerandor on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 6:56 am

    Commenting from Denmark :D

    My guild has people from everywhere, i believe we have one other danish person, a damned load of English and some Dutch i think.. Alot of accents on Vent anyway..

    By lillebart on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 7:59 am

    Comming from Denmark :P

    playing on Zenedar(EU) with my level 80 warlock :P
    a lot of Danes play wow… its a shame we dont have our own server : /

    By Eventime on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 8:44 am

    I’m a native Chicagoan, playing on the Hydraxis server. Interestingly enough I’ve met a few people in my guild that I’ve grown to know really well from the suburbs just like me. This summer when I’m back from college we plan on meeting up at a pub and tossing back a few drinks :-)

    By Cynd on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 9:50 am

    Victoria, Australia on US Detheroc

    80 hunt, shamie and warr

    By Sylvester on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 10:56 am

    Denmark and ofc the European version :D

    By Bullreaver on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    england, but i quit a week ago.
    Have a level 80 tauren DK but i got bored so i bought an xbox 360 and quit.

    By Aggrø on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    @Drakk: Belgian here too, most of my guildies are English.

    Grim Batol EU

    By Loki on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    Canada playing on Tanaris in some new guild called Project Lore. Go figure. :)

    By Brendon on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    Singapore, playing with my guildmembers (and RL friends) on Bonechewer (US PVP).

    My guild has members in the US, Paris and Singapore. Try organizing raids when your members’ timezones are up to 16 hour apart!

    By Kim on Saturday, April 18th, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    Tervehdys (hello)
    Finland here \o_

    Xavius EU
    Executus US

    By Dulica on Sunday, April 19th, 2009 at 7:03 am

    in the US on Silvermoon. And we have a couple Candadians in our guild.. we love them! and a couple of people stationed in Japan!

    By Diogo on Monday, April 20th, 2009 at 3:01 am

    Portugal here :D
    Stormrage EU

    By GreeM on Monday, April 20th, 2009 at 11:13 am

    I’m am from Bulgaria… yes I am screwed… giving the money for my wow game cards from my a*s!

    By Alice on Friday, April 24th, 2009 at 9:58 pm

    L.A. County, baby! ;D

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