Netease Coffee Launches "Blizzard Green Tea" in Response to Blizzard Gaming's Arbitrary Business Logic!

Professional Coffee Knowledge Exchange

For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style).

For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee on private WeChat, ID: qjcoffeex.

The Blizzard-Netease Drama

These past few days, everyone has likely been thoroughly enjoying the drama between Blizzard and Netease.

In 2008, the renowned American game development and publishing company Blizzard reached an agency agreement with Netease, allowing Netease to operate games like "World of Warcraft" and "Hearthstone" in China. Over more than a decade of cooperation, they accumulated a group of loyal Chinese players.

However, as the agreement was about to expire, after Blizzard announced they would not renew their contract with Netease, Netease began to gradually disband the local team operating Blizzard games, with most employees having already resigned.

Meanwhile, Blizzard was also seeking new agency partners in China. But awkwardly: they found none!! So after a round of "struggling," on January 17th, they came crawling back to Netease, hoping that Netease would continue operating the company's game services for six months under other conditions.

In response, Netease did not indulge them! Netease responded that such a proposal was arrogant, inappropriate, and不符合商业逻辑, demonstrating excessive confidence without considering the behavior of taking while giving, looking for alternatives while still in a relationship, and seeking separation without complete divorce.

Netease's "Blizzard Green Tea"

Beyond the announcement, on January 18th, Netease launched "Blizzard Green Tea" in all coffee shops within their China-based company campuses. Upon launch, it was immediately welcomed by Netease employees.

The price was extremely cheap - only 13 yuan. Regarding this pricing, netizens commented that 13 might symbolize "going to separate" (要散).

Moreover, the promotion design department created posters with subtle messages: "After working so hard for so long, let's part ways after finishing this cup." Netease Beijing's catering department even specifically sent out a WeChat public account push, fearing everyone might miss it!

Some Netease employees mentioned that due to the product's overwhelming popularity, queuing time exceeded 3 hours, and the store had to temporarily suspend supplying Blizzard Green Tea and other products. Regarding this operation, many netizens commented that it's no wonder "Onmyoji" is Netease's masterpiece of craftsmanship

More Creative Responses

Did everyone think it would end there? Not at all! Although Blizzard Green Tea and Blizzard Little Weakling were temporarily suspended, while processing half the orders, Netease Coffee introduced a new product: "Blizzard Has No Heart"! Priced at 28 yuan! (Compared to "Blizzard Green Tea," this price is truly heartless)

Because too many Netease employees hadn't gotten to drink it, Netease's catering department prepared Blizzard Green Tea with rapeseed and Blizzard Green Tea Little Weakling (bai) dish in the daily menu! (One could say this was the ultimate subtlety)

Conclusion

Now, Blizzard's "divorce without complete separation" approach is known throughout the internet. Who will take over Blizzard's business? This is truly something to look forward to!

Image source: Internet