Microsoft brings World of Warcraft and other Blizzard titles back to China

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has produced an unexpected dividend: the developer's signature games will once again be playable in China. A statement released on Wednesday revealed that Blizzard titles – including World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and other titles in the Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft …

[Pascal Monett]

"games from within the Middle Kingdom"

Why would I want to install an executable from a country that is well known for autocratic surveillance and theft of industrial secrets ?

I'm already battling with Google's insatiable appetite for data, I don't need to Xi Ping's hunger as well.

[Gene Cash]

Beatings will continue until morale improves

Why do companies deal with China?

I know they want the "one!!! billion!!! sales!!!" but they take a beating from Chinese regulators, have to divulge source code and other proprietary bits, don't make much sales in the long run, and are usually forced to divest into a China-based company and exit.

[Jrx1216]

Re: Beatings will continue until morale improves

Because even after all of that, it's still profitable.

Especially when you're the size of Microsoft/Apple/Google/etc., and the current economic climate in the US is "number go up at all costs" you have to take every opportunity like that, or you risk the investors suing you out of existence.

[tiago.pelicari]

Bill's company have good relationship with chineses, or so it seems.

[Sora2566]

Bill Gates hasn't run Microsoft in... I'm pretty sure actual decades.

[aerogems]

It just me, or does the article photo look suspiciously like FFXIV?