The China Thread

[DGuller]

Yeah, China's Zero Covid policy seems like one of those cases where a measure without the required follow-through does more damage than good.  If they followed up on the Zero Covid policy with widespread vaccination using effective vaccines, then this policy could actually have been the most effective policy in the world.  However, by botching the vaccination step, not only did Zero Covid policy just delay the inevitable at great cost, but it also set China up for the opposite of flattening the curve when they did let go of it.

[Valmy]

Ok so one of those times when a decent idea quickly turned into a counter-productive ego thing. Sort of like iconoclasm in religion 

[Syt]

Blizzard's contract with their Chinese partner has run out, and they've been unable to come to terms with them. Since having a Chinese partner is a requirement in the market, all Blizzard games are now officially offline in China (including WoW).

I've only skimmed the news articles, but I wonder how much of the breakup was state mandated, considering the government's crusade against video games.

[Jacob]

As I understand it, the breakup was largely because Blizzard demanded new terms that NetEase found too onerous.

[Grey Fox]

It's not all.

Diablo Immortal is still working.

[Jacob]

It's not all.

Diablo Immortal is still working.

Yeah, IIRC Diablo is on a separate contract.

[Josquius]

Curious the collapse would  be on blizzards side. Usually it is the Chinese side asking too much

[Jacob]

Curious the collapse would  be on blizzards side. Usually it is the Chinese side asking too much

Who knows, but the Chinese side has clearly communicated that they've found Blizzard unreasonable, including blaming much of the breakdown on one (unnamed, but it's Bobby Kotick) jerk.

Speaking very candidly on LinkedIn, Simon Zhu, spoke of his disappointment with the separation, stating that he himself had spent "10,000 hours" playing Blizzard games and claiming that he was "heartbroken" not only for himself, but for "all of the players who lived in those worlds". Most pointedly, Zhu singles out an unnamed "jerk" at Activision Blizzard for, in Zhu's opinion, causing damage to the relationship.

"As a gamer who spent 10,000 hours in the world of Azeroth, Starcraft and Overwatch, I feel so heartbroken as I will no longer have the access to my account and memories next year," began Zhu. "One day, when what has happened behind the scene could be told, developers and gamers will have a whole new level [of] understanding of how much damage a jerk can make."

"Feel terrible for players who lived in those worlds."

As we reported earlier, Blizzard Entertainment will suspend service to its range of IPs in the China region, formerly distributed by NetEase. This includes hugely popular titles such as World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, Hearthstone, and Overwatch. It has since been confirmed that mobile title Diablo: Immortal falls under a separate contract and will continue to be distributed by NetEase.

Blizzard Entertainment is currently looking for a new partner to carry its products in the very financially lucrative territory in the future.

NetEase has released a statement noting that it found the proposed extension from Activision Blizzard "rude and unreasonable, inappropriate and commercially illogical".

"As far as we know, Blizzard's negotiations with other companies during the same period were all based on a three-year contract period, responds NetEase. "Considering the non-reciprocity, unfairness, and other strict conditions attached to the cooperation, the parties could not reach an agreement in the end."

In addition, NetEase accuses Activision Blizzard of "endless, exorbitant demands, taking free rides, and taking all advantages without responsibilities."

There is a definitive element of "He said, She said" at play regarding the initial split, as both parties have commented that it was irreconcilable differences with the other that caused the 14-year publishing deal to not receive an extension. Various sources have cited money, data handling, and IP proposals as lynchpins for the failed contract negotiations, with NetEase president Simon Zhu going so far as to refer to an unnamed Activision Blizzard executive as a "jerk".

https://www.destructoid.com/activision-netease-for-collapse-of-china-publishing-partnership/

That doesn't mean that NetEase isn't being recalcitrant due to government directives or simple greed, but the story is "irreconcilable differences", with NetEase's version of what those are being the one with the most traction.

[mongers]

In a memo dated February 1 but released on Friday, General Mike Minihan, who heads the Air Mobility Command, wrote to the leadership of its roughly 110,000 members saying: "My gut tells me we will fight in 2025."

[Tonitrus]

What is interesting in one of stories I saw on that is...that an official spokesperson confirmed the contents of the memo, instead of refusing to comment.  Which almost sounds like they wanted it to be public.

[mongers]

What is interesting in one of stories I saw on that is...that an official spokesperson confirmed the contents of the memo, instead of refusing to comment.  Which almost sounds like they wanted it to be public.

Indeed, though perhaps Xi will take the 'hint' where Putin didn't?

[grumbler]

I wouldn't sweat a quote of a single short sentence taken completely out of context.  He could have been discussing his marriage, for all that quote tells us.

[Jacob]

[mongers]

US moving back into the Philippines:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64479712

[Jacob]

"West Philippine Sea" indeed.