• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 08:41
CEST 14:41
KST 21:41
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall9HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0TL Team Map Contest #5: Presented by Monster Energy6
Community News
Flash Announces Hiatus From ASL50Weekly Cups (June 23-29): Reynor in world title form?12FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event16Esports World Cup 2025 - Final Player Roster16Weekly Cups (June 16-22): Clem strikes back1
StarCraft 2
General
A FIRST CLASS RECOVERY HACKER THAT IS TRUSTWORTHY The GOAT ranking of GOAT rankings How does the number of casters affect your enjoyment of esports? The SCII GOAT: A statistical Evaluation Statistics for vetoed/disliked maps
Tourneys
RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series https://www.facebook.com/MiracleSheetsOnline/ [GSL 2025] Code S: Season 2 - Semi Finals & Finals $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo) FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response Simple Questions Simple Answers
Custom Maps
[UMS] Zillion Zerglings
External Content
Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome Mutation # 478 Instant Karma Mutation # 477 Slow and Steady
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Player “Jedi” cheat on CSL Unit and Spell Similarities Help: rep cant save Flash Announces Hiatus From ASL
Tourneys
[BSL20] Grand Finals - Sunday 20:00 CET [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 [BSL20] GosuLeague RO16 - Tue & Wed 20:00+CET
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile What do you want from future RTS games? Beyond All Reason
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Trading/Investing Thread The Games Industry And ATVI
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [Manga] One Piece [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread NBA General Discussion Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Blogs
Culture Clash in Video Games…
TrAiDoS
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
Blog #2
tankgirl
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 734 users

SC2 shut down in China, WTL to continue

Forum Index > SC2 General
39 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 Next All
TheOneAboveU
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
Germany3367 Posts
January 24 2023 07:40 GMT
#1
All Blizzard games aside from Diablo Immortal, which runs under a separate agreement, had to shut down their services in China on January 23, 2023, due to the partnership between Blizzard and NetEase running out. Foreign developers need to be partnered up with a Chinese company to publish games in the country, a condition Blizzard no longer fulfills.



Things have turned into a bit of an ugly divorce, so reconciliation seems very unlikely for now. Blizzard is said to look for a new distribution partner in China, but it's impossible to know how long that will take.

The good news for SC2 is that the SCBOY community is still determined to not only finish the ongoing season of WTL, but to hold a Spring 2023 Season as well – though without the financial support of NetEase.



Best of luck to our Chinese friends in their new adventures on the Asia server, and let's hope for a somewhat swift return of StarCraft and Warcraft there – all your achievements and rankings might have been deleted, but you still have your memories and you're still a part of this community.
Facebook Twitter Reddit
Moderatoralias TripleM | @TL_TripleM | Big Dark Energy!
digmouse
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
China6329 Posts
January 24 2023 11:47 GMT
#2
The server situation on the player side is not nearly big of a problem as anyone that is remotely serious about competitive StarCraft already have a non-Chinese account. The real kicker is how coop and arcade players lost the entirety of their progress with no means to transfer, and of course the potential financial support of WTL from NetEase.
TranslatorIf you want to ask anything about Chinese esports, send me a PM or follow me @nerddigmouse.
qcHanHan
Profile Joined September 2011
Denmark71 Posts
January 25 2023 00:32 GMT
#3
Goddamnit China.
HerO - herO - PartinG - sOs - Rain - Zest - Stats
Blargh
Profile Joined September 2010
United States2101 Posts
January 25 2023 02:55 GMT
#4
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

Not sure China is even at fault here. It largely stems from the breakup between NetEase and Blizzard, right?
jy_9876543210
Profile Joined March 2016
265 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-01-25 03:19:08
January 25 2023 03:11 GMT
#5
On January 25 2023 11:55 Blargh wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

Not sure China is even at fault here. It largely stems from the breakup between NetEase and Blizzard, right?

That's right. But what's the "NetEase" of Korea? Of Finland? Of France? Of anywhere else? Umm, it should be no problem because there's no "NetEase" in any other country, right? They could just open the client and play the game in China too. Why is this big news?
Phase 1: F2    Phase 2: A   Phase 3: Profit!
DropBear
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Australia4351 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-01-25 06:25:38
January 25 2023 06:17 GMT
#6
nevermind
Sucker for nostalgia
digmouse
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
China6329 Posts
January 25 2023 10:16 GMT
#7
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

This is entirely on the greed of Activision.
TranslatorIf you want to ask anything about Chinese esports, send me a PM or follow me @nerddigmouse.
qcHanHan
Profile Joined September 2011
Denmark71 Posts
January 25 2023 10:29 GMT
#8
Goddamn Activision then.. Again..
HerO - herO - PartinG - sOs - Rain - Zest - Stats
Drahkn
Profile Joined June 2021
190 Posts
January 25 2023 10:45 GMT
#9
On January 25 2023 19:16 digmouse wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

This is entirely on the greed of Activision.




Yeah probably all Activision and nothing about how the Chinese state is isolating itself from the world by making it difficult for certain types of foreign businesses to operate there.


"Foreign developers need to be partnered up with a Chinese company to publish games in the country, a condition Blizzard no longer fulfills."

This doesn't make you wonder?
Creager
Profile Joined February 2011
Germany1891 Posts
January 25 2023 13:02 GMT
#10
Imagine being a company essentially gaslighting their playerbase in favor of making big China dollars with mobile games and now that business decision kinda seems to have backfired...
... einmal mit Profis spielen!
Creager
Profile Joined February 2011
Germany1891 Posts
January 25 2023 13:03 GMT
#11
On January 25 2023 19:45 Drahkn wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2023 19:16 digmouse wrote:
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

This is entirely on the greed of Activision.




Yeah probably all Activision and nothing about how the Chinese state is isolating itself from the world by making it difficult for certain types of foreign businesses to operate there.


"Foreign developers need to be partnered up with a Chinese company to publish games in the country, a condition Blizzard no longer fulfills."

This doesn't make you wonder?


Yeah, makes me wonder how they thought it would be a good idea to put up with this bullshit for some ez cash grab money.
... einmal mit Profis spielen!
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20285 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-01-25 16:19:06
January 25 2023 16:15 GMT
#12
On January 25 2023 19:16 digmouse wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

This is entirely on the greed of Activision.



ABK being ABK

https://old.reddit.com/r/classicwow/comments/10jpe4m/brian_birmingham_classic_lead_has_left_blizzard/

This stuff was happening alongside it, makes it impossible to trust ABK
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
tommey.liang
Profile Joined November 2020
United States362 Posts
January 25 2023 16:35 GMT
#13
This is quite sad to see - hope SC2 can get back onto the scene over there.. no bueno.
FF, KH, Persona, Uncharted, Yakuza | Porter, Illenium, MitiS, Dabin, Seven Lions, Petit Biscuit | Diablo II, SC2 | Pho, sushi, tacos
hggfhztrtzgfd
Profile Joined January 2023
1 Post
Last Edited: 2023-01-25 22:01:02
January 25 2023 21:58 GMT
#14
--- Nuked ---
andrewlt
Profile Joined August 2009
United States7702 Posts
January 26 2023 00:37 GMT
#15
On January 25 2023 22:03 Creager wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2023 19:45 Drahkn wrote:
On January 25 2023 19:16 digmouse wrote:
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

This is entirely on the greed of Activision.




Yeah probably all Activision and nothing about how the Chinese state is isolating itself from the world by making it difficult for certain types of foreign businesses to operate there.


"Foreign developers need to be partnered up with a Chinese company to publish games in the country, a condition Blizzard no longer fulfills."

This doesn't make you wonder?


Yeah, makes me wonder how they thought it would be a good idea to put up with this bullshit for some ez cash grab money.


It's not limited to Blizz or even the videogames industry. Other companies doing business in China are affected as well. The US and EU, among others, have been complaining about unfair trade practices for years now but nobody is willing to do anything about it.
BronzeKnee
Profile Joined March 2011
United States5217 Posts
Last Edited: 2023-01-26 01:58:06
January 26 2023 01:54 GMT
#16
On January 25 2023 19:45 Drahkn wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2023 19:16 digmouse wrote:
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

This is entirely on the greed of Activision.


Yeah probably all Activision and nothing about how the Chinese state is isolating itself from the world by making it difficult for certain types of foreign businesses to operate there.

"Foreign developers need to be partnered up with a Chinese company to publish games in the country, a condition Blizzard no longer fulfills."

This doesn't make you wonder?


Makes me wonder what will happen if China invades Taiwan. Chinese gamers need to demand some homegrown games if they want to play in the future I'm thinking to prevent situations like this from affecting them.

Hopefully NetEase can make something other than pay-to-win games.
ProTech
Profile Joined November 2010
United States434 Posts
January 26 2023 02:23 GMT
#17
So the last part of this article would suggest that the chinese players will be playing on the Asia server. Does anyone know if that's really the case? Do they still have access to other servers?
phodacbiet
Profile Joined August 2010
United States1740 Posts
January 26 2023 04:54 GMT
#18
Lol couldn't have happened to a nicer company. All this bending over backward to appease to the Chinese Overlords ended in this.
TheOneAboveU
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
Germany3367 Posts
January 26 2023 07:36 GMT
#19
On January 26 2023 11:23 ProTech wrote:
So the last part of this article would suggest that the chinese players will be playing on the Asia server. Does anyone know if that's really the case? Do they still have access to other servers?

Yeah, as digmouse said in this thread and others have elsewhere, they can still connect to the other servers.

I'd also be kind of interested in the nitty gritty details, though. Is the Battle.net app defunct? How exactly are updates delivered now? How do you get a new copy of the game for your new PC? I assume the answer to most of that is setting sail to the high seas.
Moderatoralias TripleM | @TL_TripleM | Big Dark Energy!
__Coin_Ciden_Ce__
Profile Joined September 2022
11 Posts
January 26 2023 07:51 GMT
#20
On January 26 2023 10:54 BronzeKnee wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2023 19:45 Drahkn wrote:
On January 25 2023 19:16 digmouse wrote:
On January 25 2023 09:32 qcHanHan wrote:
Goddamnit China.

This is entirely on the greed of Activision.


Yeah probably all Activision and nothing about how the Chinese state is isolating itself from the world by making it difficult for certain types of foreign businesses to operate there.

"Foreign developers need to be partnered up with a Chinese company to publish games in the country, a condition Blizzard no longer fulfills."

This doesn't make you wonder?


Makes me wonder what will happen if China invades Taiwan. Chinese gamers need to demand some homegrown games if they want to play in the future I'm thinking to prevent situations like this from affecting them.

Hopefully NetEase can make something other than pay-to-win games.


So there are plenty of homegrown gacha hells, making much better profit.

But in terms of games, it is not that easy to find something like Starcraft now, is it? Most of the words come from other blzz games but not SC. That's where the big money is.

Years ago, blizzard saw the end of Korean SC Kespa. That was even before their company scandals revealed. And news said there were some bad negotiations, even though it didnt touch the availability of games. I wouldn't say it was all good before Activision takes control. But now the "Blizzard" of present is killing all legacy from the real SC developers, in the game and around the game.
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
RSL Revival
10:00
Season 1: Playoffs Day 2
Reynor vs CureLIVE!
Crank 1659
Tasteless1514
ComeBackTV 1103
IndyStarCraft 238
Rex187
3DClanTV 156
IntoTheiNu 85
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Crank 1659
Tasteless 1514
Harstem 296
IndyStarCraft 238
Rex 187
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 46154
Calm 9442
Rain 6379
firebathero 6071
Jaedong 1952
Horang2 1531
Pusan 539
Larva 472
EffOrt 441
actioN 412
[ Show more ]
BeSt 367
Leta 250
Mini 203
ToSsGirL 147
Hyun 139
Light 97
JYJ82
Snow 81
Rush 57
PianO 56
Mind 47
hero 44
Killer 27
JulyZerg 20
Shinee 18
Backho 16
Icarus 16
Barracks 14
sSak 13
HiyA 13
IntoTheRainbow 11
yabsab 10
Movie 10
soO 10
Mong 9
zelot 8
SilentControl 8
Sacsri 8
Bale 3
Dota 2
Gorgc3670
qojqva1828
XcaliburYe550
420jenkins501
XaKoH 460
League of Legends
singsing2950
JimRising 324
Other Games
B2W.Neo1308
DeMusliM502
hiko338
Pyrionflax228
Lowko182
Fuzer 136
ArmadaUGS112
rGuardiaN85
Organizations
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• StrangeGG 46
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 2821
• WagamamaTV118
League of Legends
• Nemesis2694
• Stunt624
Upcoming Events
OSC
19m
WardiTV European League
3h 19m
Scarlett vs Percival
Jumy vs ArT
YoungYakov vs Shameless
uThermal vs Fjant
Nicoract vs goblin
Harstem vs Gerald
FEL
3h 19m
Big Brain Bouts
3h 19m
Korean StarCraft League
14h 19m
CranKy Ducklings
21h 19m
RSL Revival
21h 19m
FEL
1d 3h
RSL Revival
1d 21h
FEL
1d 23h
[ Show More ]
BSL: ProLeague
2 days
Dewalt vs Bonyth
Replay Cast
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
The PondCast
4 days
Replay Cast
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
RSL Revival
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-06-28
HSC XXVII
Heroes 10 EU

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
BSL Season 20
Acropolis #3
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Championship of Russia 2025
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters
CCT Season 2 Global Finals
IEM Melbourne 2025

Upcoming

2025 ACS Season 2: Qualifier
CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
2025 ACS Season 2
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
K-Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
SEL Season 2 Championship
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.