Blizzard Switches World of Warcraft Partner in China
Posted by 
Juggynaut on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 46 Comments Tags: blizzard, china, diablo iii, location, map, netease, starcraft II, the9, totally rad guild, venturebeat, world
Juggynaut on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 46 Comments Tags: blizzard, china, diablo iii, location, map, netease, starcraft II, the9, totally rad guild, venturebeat, world 
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?
Reader Comments (46)
the Netherlands here
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!!
England and Germany, depends where I am working.
Mexico but i play on US server :D and english version i hate the spanish version
USA here i play on the US version =p
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.
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
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.
Australia on barthalis
and we have lots of Americans and ppl who speak languages i cant guess
Holland here, playing on azjol nerub server. lvl80 resto drood
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
Denmark here. playing on Emerald Dream ( EU ). lvl 80 undead mage.
Romania here, playing on Azuremyst EU, lvl 80 Draenei shaman , takin' a break now for studys thoo
Belgium!
Bloodscalp EU
Ret/Prot Paladin
Blackwater Raiders server, US
Englan playing on the EU server - Moonglade :D
Finland ftw!
Nordrassil (EU)
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
Im playing from Sweden XD
Outland server EU
Denmark, Bornholm on server Wildhammer (EU)
Combat Rouge 80 Living Legends (Alliance)
Finland here :D
Laughing Skull EU
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.
awwww, Gold farmers can't get into WotLK without hacking accounts QQ.
Chile, Quel'Thalas (US, Latin American server).
Keep the good work guys.
Romania here. Azuremyst EU.