devil 4, World of Warcraft, Overwatch and RPG maker Blizzard are reportedly facing legal action from their former Chinese publishing partner NetEase, which plans to sue the developer for $44m (£35m) for violation of the license agreements. However, in a statement to PCGamesN, the developers of Diablo 4 and WoW say they have yet to receive any legal action from NetEase, describing the publisher’s recent “campaign” as “mysterious and disappointing.”
Previously, NetEase was responsible for distributing various Blizzard games in China. However, the partnership agreement ended in January after NetEase dismissed the terms of the new agreement with Blizzard as “rude and unreasonable”. Soon after, on January 19, footage surfaced showing NetEase employees physically destroying a Blizzard statue outside the company’s headquarters.
On April 24, Chinese news outlet Sina reported that NetEase had filed a $44 million lawsuit against Blizzard, alleging that the developer failed to pay players the refund it promised to pay after the shutdown of gaming services in China. NetEase reportedly said that it should pay those refunds instead.
The alleged lawsuit also alleged that NetEase made deposits to secure licensing deals for Blizzard games that have yet to be repaid. The alleged lawsuit also alleges that NetEase is seeking compensation for unsold Blizzard-related goods.
However, in a statement to PCGamesN, Blizzard says that it has “not yet received” a lawsuit from NetEase.
“We have not yet received a lawsuit, but we are confident that we are not violating any license agreement,” a company representative said. “The terms that NetEase is complaining about reflect standard industry practices and have been mutually beneficial for years.
“While this persistent campaign by a former partner is disappointing and confusing, it is important to note that we have gained nearly two decades of positive experience in China and remain committed to serving players and protecting their interests.”
PCGamesN has contacted NetEase and will update this story with any additional information.
Blizzard’s announcement comes as World of Warcraft is set to receive an overhaul to its classic mode, and we’ve finally gotten a look at the system requirements for Diablo 4.
You can also take a look at all the classes in Diablo 4 or prepare for Diablo 4 endgame, which promises to be difficult.
Source : PC Gamesn
