Blizzard Leaving China
Recently, the China Consumer Association (CCA) announced the "Top 10 hot spots of consumer protection opinion in 2022", aiming to review and summarize the key news of the Chinese consumer market in 2022.
Among the ten listed issues, Blizzard shutting down its operation in China was specifically mentioned.
China Consumer Association:
In recent years, some improperly operated online games have caused virtual property disputes resulting in consumer complaints, which have repeatedly aroused public opinion... In late November 2022, the "NetEase and Blizzard stopped cooperating" incident also triggered public opinion on the possibility that games such as World of Warcraft and Hearthstone, which have a large player base, might be "suspended" due to the potential damage to consumer rights. The case of "NetEase and Blizzard stop cooperation" has also aroused public concern about the potential damage to consumers' rights and interests due to the "suspension of service" of games such as World of Warcraft and Hearthstone which have a large player base. In the relevant cases, the focus of public opinion controversy mainly lies in the fact that most games will delete the data archives related to the game after the suspension of service, which is questioned to infringe on the rights and interests of game players. Moreover, the compensation measures proposed by some game operators are mostly gift packages or benefits that lead to other games of the company, which in turn leads consumers to question whether the so-called compensation scheme is a new way of ripping them off
A media survey found that in online virtual property disputes, consumers are often caught in a difficult situation due to a lack of knowledge, difficulty in obtaining evidence, and a lack of sound mechanisms to protect their rights. According to public opinion, consumers' rights and interests cannot be deleted whenever they want, and online game operators must respect consumers' wishes and choose a way acceptable to them when adjusting their business strategies. The supervisory department should urge the enterprises to fulfill their responsibilities, consciously protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers, and punish the illegal acts that violate the legitimate rights and interests of consumers in accordance with the law. Relevant laws and regulations should also continue to improve, to build a solid wall of protection for consumers' virtual property, to better protect consumers' peace of mind.
Source: CCA