Blizzard signs new deal with The9

Blizzard Entertainment has signed a new deal with online game publisher The9 that will see World of Warcraft expansion pack The Burning Crusade released in China.

The add-on is currently being localised for the Chinese market, though a release date has yet to be announced. The deal also includes "provisions for hardware upgrades" designed to improve the WOW playing experience.

There are already 3.5 million Chinese gamers playing WOW, most of whom play via a pay-as-you-go system rather than having to pay a monthly subscription fee as in most other countries.

The original WOW deal has proved to be extremely lucrative for The9, which will continue to provide community management, technical support and in-game customer service.

The Burning Crusade launched in the UK on January 16 and was an instant hit with WOW fans, becoming the second fastest-selling PC game in chart history. As of this week it's available to purchase and download via the WOW website.