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ArcheAge Japan going F2P, getting 1.0 patch in April
Japanese ArcheAge publisher GameOn has announced that the fantasy sandpark will switch to a free-to-play business model on April 24th. The monthly subscription will still be available, and MMO Culture reports that players who pony up will "get tons of bonuses." The April 24th update will also bring the controversial 1.0 patch to ArcheAge Japan as well as an increase in the level cap from 50 to 55.
Watch these ArcheAge Japanese launch commercials
ArcheAge launched in Japan last week, and MMO Culture got its hands on the two launch trailers that aired on Japanese television. Both focus on the game's non-combat activities, from crafting to farming to life on the open sea. They're not completely violence-free, though, as we get to see the kraken make mincemeat out of a player-built ship. The website also reports that ArcheAge launched with a subscription business model in Japan despite the game's recent free-to-play conversion in its native Korea. Check out the trailers after the cut! [Thanks Dengar!]
ArcheAge market expands to Japan, hopes rise for more globalization
Although the publishing agreement with GameOn for the service of ArcheAge in Japan was actually signed in 2009 (according to February 25th's press release about Simplygon), details of the company's plans for the game just recently became clear: GameOn's parent company, NeoWiz, aims to distribute and support ArcheAge using a revived social gaming platform called Pmang combined with GameOn. It's not exactly the announcement Western ArcheAge fans want to hear most, but the news that the game will be published in Japan is definitely a step in the right direction; adding yet another country gives hope that the market will continue to expand, perhaps finally to North America and Europe. Also fanning the flames of hope is talk that NeoWiz may take the platform worldwide. We have our fingers crossed! [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
