Press release

WELLLLCOME! PULL UP A CHAIR BY THE HEARTH—HEARTHSTONE® COMING TO THAILAND

IRVINE, Calif.—March 4, 2016—The Inn is humming with excitement as its patrons prepare to welcome a slew of newcomers. In the coming weeks, Blizzard Entertainment, in partnership with Ini3 Digital Public Company Limited, a leading online game provider, is bringing a Thai-language version of Hearthstone®, its smash-hit digital strategy card game, to Thailand. This will be the first Blizzard game fully localized in Thai—and Blizzard’s first Southeast Asian localization. In addition, Blizzard has localized the Battle.net® account-creation process into Thai for this launch to better support new players joining the community.

“We’re always pleased whenever we can welcome new players from around the world to join us in Hearthstone, especially when we can do so in their own language,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re excited to continue that mission by bringing Hearthstone to Thailand, fully localized and ready for players to dive right in.”

“We are extremely excited to partner with Blizzard to bring Hearthstone to players in Thailand,” said Pattera Apithanakoon, CEO of Ini3 Digital Public Company Limited. “We’re thrilled that Blizzard recognizes the passion and demand for great gaming experiences in Southeast Asia.”

Deceptively simple, yet insanely fun, Hearthstone is a free-to-play digital strategy card game that everyone can enjoy. Players choose from among nine epic Warcraft® heroes, and then take turns playing cards from their customizable decks to cast potent spells, use heroic weapons or abilities, and summon powerful characters to crush their opponent. Whether you want to prove your prowess in ranked matches, test your chops as a deck builder in the Arena, challenge your friends in a Tavern Brawl, or battle crafty A.I. opponents to win shiny new cards in Solo Adventures, Hearthstone offers all kinds of fun ways to play. For more information about the game, visit  www.playhearthstone.com.

Hearthstone will be available in Thailand for iOS and Android™ mobile phones; Windows®, iOS, and Android tablets; and Windows and Mac® PCs. Localized versions of all content currently available in Hearthstone—including Classic and expansion card packs, Adventures, and alternate Heroes—will be available for purchase in the in-game Shop with the launch of the Thai version, providing players with plenty of opportunities for fine-tuning their deck-building skills.

   

About Ini3 Digital Public Company Limited

Ini3 Digital Public Company Limited is one of Thailand’s leading providers of online gaming services since 2004. As true pioneers of the online gaming industry, Ini3 was first to introduce and popularize free-to-play games in the country, and currently offers games on all platforms to more than 20 million users in Thailand. The company also provides other services such as i3play, an online gaming portal, and Cookie Card, a top online gaming payment solution available on a wide distribution network across Thailand.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft® and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes nineteen #1-selling games* and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.

*Based on internal company records and reports from key distribution partners.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Blizzard Entertainment's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about scheduled release dates , are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Blizzard Entertainment's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Blizzard Entertainment and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Blizzard Entertainment nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Blizzard Entertainment or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.