Popular video games including "World of Warcraft" will return to China this summer, US developer Blizzard and local partner NetEase said on Wednesday, over a year after a contract dispute pulled them from the market leaving millions of fans bereft.

"Beloved video game titles from Blizzard Entertainment that captivated millions of players in China will return to the market sequentially, beginning this summer, under a renewed publishing deal," the companies said in a statement.

They added that titles including WoW spin-off card game "Hearthstone" and other games in the "World of Warcraft" (WoW) and "Overwatch" franchises would also return to the country.

WoW's Chinese servers went offline in January 2023.

Massively popular worldwide, particularly in the 2000s, WoW is an online multiplayer role-playing game set in a fantasy Medieval world where good battles evil.

It is known for its immersive and addictive gameplay, and players can rack up hundreds of hours of game time.

Blizzard's games launched in China in 2008, through collaboration with internet giant NetEase -- under local law, foreign developers are required to partner with Chinese firms to enter the market.

But after 14 years and acquiring millions of players in China, the two firms announced in November 2022 that talks over renewing their operating contract had failed to lead to an agreement.

"After continuing discussions over the past year, both Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase are thrilled to align on a path forward to once again support players in mainland China and are proud to reaffirm their commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences," the companies said in their statement. (AFP)