Blizzard-appointed distributor gearing up for possible 2011 release as earnings are boosted by WarCraft.

GamePolitics reports that China-based internet company NetEase has submitted StarCraft II for approval to the Chinese government.

The site says that a research note by analyst Doug Creutz of research firm Cowen Group reveals the application by NetEase: “Although the timing of governmental approval is (as always) uncertain,” says Creutz, “we believe the submission likely means a launch of Starcraft II sometime in 2011.”

NetEase previously distributed Blizzard’s World Of WarCraft in the territory, and released the expansion pack Wrath Of The Lich King on August 31. In a third quarter earnings report issued yesterday the company said: “Year-over-year online games revenue growth of over 60 per cent was primarily driven by World Of Warcraft, a game licensed from Blizzard Entertainment, Heroes of Tang Dynasty and Tianxia II.”