Blizzard, NetEase scrap Warcraft mobile game after financing dispute

World Of Warcraft was released in 2004 and remains one of the biggest cash cows for Activision Blizzard and NetEase, which has been the game’s Chinese distributor since 2009. — AP

Activision Blizzard Inc and NetEase Inc have torpedoed a World Of Warcraft smartphone game that had been in development for three years, raising questions about one of the industry’s most lucrative business relationships.

NetEase has disbanded a team of more than 100 developers tasked with creating content for the title, only some of whom were offered internal transfers, people familiar with the matter said. The two companies disagreed over terms and ultimately called a halt to the project, which had been kept under wraps, a person familiar with the deal said, asking to not be identified discussing private information.