Brighton, England (April 3rd, 2007) — NCsoft® Europe and ArenaNet® are delighted to announce that following the recent Polish localisation launch, the award winning Guild Wars® franchise will now also be available for Russian players in their native language from 19th April 2007.
The epic saga of Guild Wars®, Guild Wars FactionsTM and Guild Wars NightfallTM has proved to be very successful with Russian players, currently available at stores with localised Russian box and instructions. New and existing Russian players will shortly experience an even greater immersion into these epic adventures, as Russian becomes the latest in-game language to be included, continuing Guild Wars expansion into new markets around the world. Unlike other online role-playing games, Guild Wars does not divide users of different languages onto different servers, but instead allows players from around the world to play together.
"We are delighted by the overwhelming enthusiasm of Russian players for Guild Wars", said Max Brown, NCsoft Europe Sales and Operations Director. "With fully localised versions of all three Guild Wars titles, there will be no obstacles to prevent all Russian players, new and old from fully experiencing the wonders of the Guild Wars campaigns."
Guild Wars exclusive Russian distributor, Buka Entertainment have high hopes that the complete localisation of the Guild Wars campaigns will encourage even more players to experience the world of Guild Wars and that Russian Guilds will take their true place in the PvP hall of fame.
"For the first time, Russian players will no longer be restricted by Russian language only servers. Now they will be able to join players from all over the globe", stated Alexander Mikhailov, Buka Entertainment C.E.O. "With full localisation and the unique international districts, the language barrier will no longer prohibit a players immersion and we'll soon see Russian Guilds realising their full potential within the international gaming arena."
Guild Wars, an instant worldwide bestseller upon its release in April 2005, and Guild Wars Factions, the number one game in both Europe and North America in April 2006, are global online role-playing games. Launched in October 2006, Guild Wars Nightfall continues the tradition of inviting players to immerse themselves in an epic storyline set within a vibrant fantasy world. The game has met with global acclaim, achieving numerous awards and accolades from the specialist press, whilst also maintaining a high chart position at retail since launch.
Published by NCsoft Europe and distributed exclusively by Buka Entertainment in Russia, Guild Wars Prophecies Russian in-game language will be available from 19th April 2007, with Guild Wars Factions and Guild Wars Nightfall releasing in May 2007.
ArenaNet, located in Bellevue, Washington, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NCsoft® Corporation. ArenaNet has built a state-of-the-art, interactive game network and develops premier multiplayer online games for dedicated game players. ArenaNet's first title, Guild Wars, is a global online roleplaying game that allows gamers to play with anyone, anytime and anywhere in the world. The novel business model, which requires no subscription fees and emphasizes instant action rather than time spent playing, has undoubtedly contributed to the huge commercial success of Guild Wars. More information about ArenaNet can be found at www.arena.net.
Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, NCsoft Corporation is the world's leading developer and publisher of online games. Founded in 1997, NCsoft is home to Lineage®, the world's most successful online role playing game. NCsoft has joint venture offices located in Japan, Taiwan, and China, as well as branches in North America and the United Kingdom. In fiscal year 2004, NCsoft posted revenues of KRW (Korean Won) 246 billion or approximately US$246 million. More information about NCsoft can be found at http://www.ncsoft.net