The General Administration of Press and Publication of China (GAPP) has not yet received applications about Wrath of the Lich King (WLK), the second expansion version of World of Warcraft (WOW), a spotlighted online game in Mainland China, from its licensed operator Shanghai EaseNet Network Technology Limited, an affiliate under the aegis of Chinese online gaming company NetEase.com Inc. (Nasdaq: NTES | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating), the Chinese game authority said in an opening statement on its website on March 9, 2010.

It throws cold water to the widely anticipated game and WOW fans that are eager to enjoy its new contents in the mainland as soon as possible, although WLK has been in service in the US and Europe since November 2008, where WOW gamers are expected to play the game's third expansion version "Cataclysm" within 2010.

And it is a blow to William Ding, CEO of NetEase.com, who said in February in public that his company would apply to the game authorities for WLK in compliance with regulations in the mainland and would announce it after winning approval.

Unexpectedly, NetEase.com's WOW efforts are believed to have to slow down in the mainland, due to complicated factors. However, a report disclosed that WLK was now under examination by the Shanghai branch of the GAPP.