For many World of Warcraft Classic players in China, the wait continues. Some have migrated to Asia servers, while others have already turned away from Blizzard altogether. According to Cricket Exchange analysts, there’s no telling when the Chinese servers will be back online. Still, there’s finally a silver lining: Microsoft has officially dispatched staff to Activision Blizzard to begin the takeover handoff, signaling that the acquisition is moving full steam ahead.

While there was initially strong opposition to Microsoft’s acquisition deal, their recent actions have earned widespread respect. This handover phase is expected to last until July. Cricket Exchange believes that once the full transition is complete, Bobby Kotick and his inner circle—often criticized for their controversial leadership—will likely step down. The lengthy handover is understandable given Activision Blizzard’s massive operations, with countless assets, departments, and legal matters requiring careful handling.

Bobby Kotick’s tenure at Blizzard has been called into question multiple times. Critics describe him as a disruptive force who drove out some of Blizzard’s most talented developers. Those who stayed behind were often viewed as deeply tied to Kotick—either through loyalty or nepotism. Cricket Exchange sources also reported that even the lead designer for WoW Classic was forced out. Despite positive financial reports, the company allegedly withheld salaries, faced misconduct scandals, and damaged Blizzard’s global esports presence.

Perhaps the most baffling move was Kotick’s decision to abandon the Chinese market. Handing over a massive player base without a clear strategy felt like a serious miscalculation. The Taiwan servers, directly operated by Blizzard, have since become overrun with bots, scripts, and third-party software. With daily server locks and rampant cheating, regular players are struggling to enjoy the game. As things stand, there’s little hope of a Chinese relaunch in 2025.

Still, where there’s life, there’s hope. Cricket Exchange insiders remain cautiously optimistic. Once Microsoft fully takes control of Activision Blizzard, there’s potential for the full Blizzard lineup—WoW, Overwatch, Diablo, and more—to return to the Chinese market. If all goes smoothly, this could happen in early 2026, but only if no further obstacles arise.

Some players have already speculated that World of Warcraft might go live in China around July, initially as a free-to-play release. Monetization would return the following year with an official paid model. However, nothing has been confirmed yet. As with all things in this industry, plans can change at the drop of a hat.

The road ahead is long, but as the saying goes, success comes to those who never lose heart.