World of Warcraft Opens To China News

The incessant success of Blizzardâ??s World of Warcraft looks set to continue, as today the MMORPG officially launched in China. The commercial launch follows a hugely successful beta test, during which the game reached a peak concurrency of more than 500,000 players.

Blizzard Entertainment has partnered with local publisher The9, who it claims is the most talented MMO operator in the region. The9 will help to operate and maintain World of Warcraft in China via a dedicated team, who will assist in the synchronization of content updates, player feedback, customer service and help to ensure accurate localisation keeps the game relevant to Chinese gamers.

To combat the threat of Piracy within the territory, players have to purchase an authorised CD key to activate their accounts and enter the game. CD Keys cost 30 Yuan and can be purchased with a WoW Points Card, which also cost 30 Yuan and can be used at a rate of 9 points per hour (0.45 Yuan per hour).

â??It has always been a goal at Blizzard to become a major developer and publisher for the Chinese gaming market," said Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. â??We feel that China offers a huge and eager audience and it is poised to become the next great region in gaming. We are simply thrilled to be bringing World of Warcraft to this great country. With fully localized content, a regional network infrastructure, and local, around-the-clock customer support, we believe that World of Warcraft will provide Chinese gamers with an unparalleled game experience.â?