In a statement released on Chinese microblogging site Weibo, the company's subsidiary Blizzard China said it had contacted NetEase last week with a proposal to extend their partnership for six months which the Hangzhou-based company had rejected.

Blizzard China added that its game services will be discontinued on Jan. 23 in accordance with NetEase' announcement.

(Reporting by Josh Ye; Editing by Kim Coghill)

By Josh Ye