NetEase, a Chinese online game operator, is rumored to be partnering with Blizzard Entertainment to operate the theoretically upcoming StarCraft Online in China.
Of course all of this is very suspect as even the Trademarkets.com article where these rumors seem to have originated explicitly states that the CEO of NetEase would not confirm the rumors.
With Blizzard also refusing to comment, other than the speculation of "industry insiders" the only evidence supporting the rumor is the fact that Blizzard posted job ads seeking developers for a "next-generation MMO" almost a year ago.
While the rest of the Internet seems to have attached themselves to this rumor like lamprey, I'm still quite skeptical.
Why would Blizzard create a StarCraft MMO that would only cannibalize subscribers from the current MMO king, their own World of Warcraft?
Why would there be so little evidence of a US launch prior to the introduction of evidence for a Chinese launch?
Why would Blizzard cannibalize sales of StarCraft 2 with an MMO based in the same universe that would theoretically be revealed around the same time?
While I don't doubt the eventuality of a StarCraft MMO, this rumor just seems too light on factual corroboration for me to take seriously.
