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Guild Wars 2 dodges subscription fee in China
ArenaNet announced that it will not institute a subscription model or introduce free-to-play elements when its MMORPG Guild Wars 2 launches in China this year, subverting the region's dominant time-based, pay-to-play trends for online games. Guild Wars 2 will launch in China as a one-time purchase supported by frequent free updates, maintaining the same business model supporting the game since its launch in 2012. The upcoming Chinese version, which ArenaNet will produce in a publishing partnership with KongZhong Corporation, will see timely updates that mirror content additions in North America and Europe. The Chinese version of Guild Wars 2 will enter a two-week closed beta test on March 11. [Image: ArenaNet]
Guild Wars 2 is heading to China
While talk is often about Eastern games migrating to Western audiences, today its about a Western game moving East: ArenaNet has formed a partnership with KongZhong Corporation to take Guild Wars 2 to China. This marks one of the largest licensing transactions ever for a Western game in the Chinese market. ArenaNet co-founder and president Mike O'Brien noted that the studio had its eye on the global market when designing the game and worked to appeal to a global audience. Developers' work has paid off as GW2 is highly anticipated in China, according to KongZhong CEO Wang Lei lei who further stated, "I believe Chinese game players will be impressed by Guild Wars 2 unique gameplay which will bring truly epic, cooperative gameplay back to the MMORPG genre."
