China games company NetEase Inc. has rejected a proposal from World of Warcraft creator Activision Blizzard to temporarily extend its partnership while the U.S. company seeks a new partner, calling the proposed terms “unequal and unfair” in an escalating public spat.
Blizzard said in November that its 14-year partnership with NetEase was set to end, spelling the imminent withdrawal of games such as World of Warcraft, the Starcraft series, and Overwatch from the world’s biggest games market as of Jan. 23.
In a statement, NetEase said yesterday that Blizzard proposed to extend the partnership for six months under existing terms while it continued seeking for a new partner in China.
“We believe that Blizzard’s proposal … is rude, inappropriate, and not in line with business logic,” NetEase said.
The Chinese company criticized Blizzard for its “excessive confidence” in making requests that it said demonstrated a lack of consideration for NetEase and gamers.
Blizzard has yet to find a new Chinese publisher for its games as required for releasing its titles in China.
