Why did Overwatch shut down in China?

Overwatch shut down in China due to the end of the licensing agreement between Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase, its local publisher in China, which failed to negotiate an extension to their 14-year-old partnership. This dissolution of the partnership resulted in the shutdown of all Blizzard games in China, including Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Starcraft, as foreign gaming companies usually require a local partner to operate in the Chinese market due to strict game-publishing regulations.

Overview of the Situation

The shutdown of Overwatch in China has significant implications for the gaming community, and several questions arise from this situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

1. What happened to Overwatch in China? Overwatch servers in China were shut down due to a disagreement between Blizzard and NetEase, which failed to reach an agreement on a new distribution deal.
2. Why can’t Chinese players access Overwatch? Chinese players cannot access Overwatch because the game’s local servers were shut down following the expiration of the licensing agreement between Blizzard and NetEase.
3. Is Overwatch banned in China? While Overwatch is not technically banned in China, its local servers are no longer available due to the lack of a local publisher.

Game-Specific Questions

4. Will Overwatch 1 shut down permanently? Yes, Overwatch 1 was shut down permanently to make way for Overwatch 2, with servers being closed 27 hours before the launch of the sequel.
5. Is Overwatch 2 available in China? Although Overwatch 2 is not available on local Chinese servers, players can access the game through the international version of Steam, which is accessible without a VPN in China.
6. What is the status of World of Warcraft in China? World of Warcraft, like Overwatch, is no longer available in China due to the expiration of the licensing agreement between Blizzard and NetEase.

Player and Community Questions

7. Which country plays Overwatch the most? The United States has the highest number of Overwatch players, followed by Germany, the Republic of Korea, Canada, and Russia.
8. Do people play Overwatch in Japan? Yes, although Overwatch is not as popular in Japan as it is in other countries, it still has a player base, with some Japanese players competing at the professional level.
9. Is there a Chinese hero in Overwatch? Yes, Mei is a Chinese hero in Overwatch, a climatologist who uses her abilities to protect the environment and fight against those who seek to harm it.

Business and Regulation Questions

10. Why is China mad at Blizzard? China is not necessarily “mad” at Blizzard, but the company’s failure to reach a new agreement with NetEase has resulted in the shutdown of its games in the country.
11. What consoles are banned in China? While not entirely banned, gaming consoles from companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo were restricted in China until 2014, when the ban was lifted.
12. Is WoW illegal in China? World of Warcraft is not illegal in China, but its local servers are no longer available due to the lack of a licensing agreement between Blizzard and NetEase.

Character-Specific Questions

13. Who is the Mexican girl in Overwatch? Sombra is a Mexican hero in Overwatch, an exceptional hacker who uses her abilities to infiltrate and disrupt the operations of her enemies.
14. Who is the youngest girl in Overwatch? Orisa is the youngest hero in Overwatch, a brilliant and resourceful omnic who uses her abilities to protect her allies and defeat her enemies.
15. What is the gender ratio in Overwatch? Overwatch has a significant female player base, with around 16% of players identifying as female, which is higher than many other first-person shooter games.