Blizzard and NetEase promote the return of the Lich King in World of Warcraft Classic in China with cats. The two released trailers are packed with Easter eggs for long-time fans.
What are these trailers? The two trailers were uploaded two years apart on the official NetEase-Blizzard channel on BiliBili, the Chinese equivalent of YouTube. The first was released on October 2, 2022.
Cats play WoW, awaken the Lich King
What does the first trailer show? It starts out quite strangely: A cat sits in front of a screen connected to a gaming PC. The clicking sounds suggest that the cat is currently playing WoW. Three other cats are relaxing behind her, one of them wearing glasses.
Suddenly, another cat walks through the door. But this is no ordinary cat; it appears to be Mr. Bigglesworth: the pet cat of Kel’Thuzad and a rare battle pet.
Those who were paying attention might have already spotted one of the most powerful artifacts in the game in the background. On a drawer, the Crown of Domination is sitting. Driven by curiosity or evil intent, Mr. Bigglesworth activates the crown.
What does the second trailer show? It was uploaded on November 9, 2024, and somehow manages to be even crazier. In it, a cat and an obsessed cockatoo are fighting over a fish. The path to the goal is once again filled with numerous references to the game.
New expansion for WoW Classic, but disputes delayed the release
What were the trailers promoting? The trailer from 2022 promoted the release of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion for the Chinese version of WoW Classic. The newer one announces the return of the spectral tiger as a mount.
Wrath of the Lich King is often considered by fans to be the best expansion for the MMORPG, alongside Burning Crusade. However, despite the trailer in 2022, players in China could only start in 2024. A few months after the release of the clip, a rift occurred between Blizzard and NetEase.
Foreign companies are only allowed to do business in China if they collaborate with a Chinese partner. After NetEase and Blizzard split, the servers for WoW and Classic were shut down. However, it seems they have reconciled now, as the two companies have renewed their collaboration, and WoW is once again playable in China.
The release of WoW: Wrath of the Lich King Classic in China seems to have been a great success. In 2024, Blizzard celebrated a new all-time high in WoW, which is likely due in part to the many Chinese players. You can read more about it here: More than 12 million players! WoW possibly with a new all-time high, but not thanks to The War Within
