Webzen set to open nine new studios

Korean entertainment company Webzen Inc. has unveiled plans to set up nine new development studios, with a view to creating intellectual property for the global online games market.

The studios will employ 450 development staff in total, 350 of them internally employed by Webzen, to work on PC online game and client/server technologies as well as games for next-generation consoles.

âTo become a global online entertainment leader it was essential for Webzen to grow the companyâs information technology and internal development infrastructure, as well as align ourselves with the industryâs most talented game creators,â said Webzen CEO Nam Joo Kim.

âWebzen is serious about making high quality online games that players around the world can enjoy. Weâre committing more resources than any other games publisher to make this a reality.â

Earlier this year the company revealed its E3 line-up, which will include MMORPG SUN and the MMOFPS Huxley, which is inspired by the novel Brave New World. Also on show will be All Points Bulletin, the first online game from Grand Theft Auto creator David Jones and his UK development studio, Real Time Worlds.

Founded in 2000, Webzen is a leader in the MMOG market and its latest title, MU, has more than 56 million users and half a million concurrent users in Asia alone. In January Webzen announced plans to enter the US market with a new subsidiary, Webzen America, based in LA.