The game Diablo 4 has received long-awaited approval for release in China from the country`s National Press and Publication Administration. This significant development opens up a vast new market for Blizzard`s popular action role-playing game.
As reported by Wowhead, in July, the Chinese government approved only seven foreign games, including Diablo 4, alongside 127 domestic developments. This brings the total number of foreign games approved for release in China this year to 62. This approval signals a more open approach from the regulatory body.
Although the number of approved foreign games has increased in recent years due to the monthly (instead of bi-monthly) approval process, there was a notable period from July 2021 to March 2022 when no new games were approved for release. Last month, China approved a record 158 new games for release, marking a multi-year high, according to the Chinese news outlet Yicai Global, indicating a revitalization in the gaming sector.
This is a significant victory for Blizzard, which in 2024 resumed its partnership with Chinese gaming giant NetEase to re-launch games like World of Warcraft and Overwatch 2 in China. This move follows licensing disputes that had rendered many Blizzard titles, including WoW, unavailable in the region for most of 2023 and early 2024. It was during this period of unplayability for many Blizzard games in China that Diablo 4 saw its global release in June 2023.
Blizzard and NetEase have not yet announced an official release date for Diablo 4 in China. However, upon its arrival, the game will likely feature several differences from the version played by the rest of the world. Previous Blizzard games in China have operated on separate, region-locked clients and servers, often providing region-exclusive events and cosmetic items tailored for the local audience.
Chinese versions of Blizzard games frequently undergo content modifications to comply with the PRC`s government regulations. For Diablo 4, this will likely involve less gore, fewer skeletons, and the removal of certain religious references to meet local standards. One certainty is that the Diablo 4 Necromancer and their skeletal minions will almost certainly appear visually different in the Chinese version to adhere to these guidelines.
In other Diablo 4 news, Blizzard appears ready to introduce major changes to its flagship ARPG, as content creators recently received a secret preview of the game`s future direction. For everyone else, Diablo 4 Season 9 is currently underway, with a new expansion scheduled for release next year, promising continued evolution for the game.