Netease Is Suing Blizzard For US$44 Million

Netease has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard after the long-term partners ended the China licensing deal earlier this year in January.

The move basically screwed over Chinese players who religiously played World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Warcraft III: Reforged, Overwatch, StarCraft and StarCraft 2, Diablo 3, and Heroes of the Storm. In fact, many of them owe their livelihoods to WoW.

A report by Chinese publication Sina Technology (via WoWhead) said that Netease’s lawsuit is seeking US$43.5 million to cover refunds for discontinued games and services, as well as compensation for unsold merchandise inventory and deposits on undeveloped games. This also includes “unequal provisions favouring Blizzard Entertainment” in the licensing agreements between the pair.

Whether Activision Blizzard will offer compensation and reparations, we’ll never know for the next few months until this is resolved, or whether they would respond since they have their hands tied.