Gaming Industry Turmoil: Activision Blizzard and NetEase Split, Japan Approves Microsoft Takeover, and Rift Between Giants Deepens.

The split between Activision Blizzard and NetEase was partly due to CEO Bobby Kotick feeling "threatened" during a call in October 2020. Tensions had been building between the two companies, with NetEase executives believing that Kotick had made "unreasonable demands" over the years. In January, World of Warcraft became unavailable in China due to the two not being able to make an agreement. NetEase declined Activision Blizzard's offer to extend the contract, citing "unequal, unfair, and other conditions attached to the cooperation."