Codemasters Online Gaming secures new MMORPG title

Codemasters' online entertainment division has secured the North American and European distribution and operation rights to ArchLord, the highly anticipated MMORPG from Korean publisher and developer NHN Games.

Currently in open beta service in Korea, ArchLord offers online gamers a fantastically realised world with a competitive premise unique to the MMO genre. Each month, one player will take control of the game world and leverage the mystical power of ancient relics to gain complete mastery of the fundamental forces of creation, unleashing chaos and devastation upon their foes.

David Solari, Codemasters Online Gaming director, commented: "ArchLord is an incredibly important signing for Codemasters Online Gaming and NHN has delivered an amazing world and a unique player objective. This incredible feature, where players compete to become the ArchLord and personally shape the game world, has never been seen before in any MMO. It's sure to capture the imaginations of Western gamers and make ArchLord a landmark MMO launch for 2006."

ArchLord promises to deliver one of the most advanced and complex PVP combat systems ever in any MMO, utilising sprawling free battle areas and special guild battlefields that enables players to engage in the art of war with rival guilds.

Jung Hwan Kim, senior manager of NHN Games overseas business team, added: "We are overjoyed to be working with the online gaming division at Codemasters to bring ArchLord to Western gamers. Codemasters has a proven pedigree in PC publishing and massive ambitions in the MMO sector with a great team that we were keen to work with on such an important next-generation MMO title as ArchLord."

Scheduled for release in Q3 2006, ArchLord will be published and operated exclusively in North America and Europe by Codemasters Online Gaming.

The company recently extended the distribution and management license for its debut MMO title, RF Online, from South Korean publisher CCR. Additionally, a recently announced partnership with Turbine Incorporated will see Codemasters' newly established division overseeing hosting, community management, technical support and billing for the Hasbro licensed title, Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach.