Plans for the Chinese launch of Eve Online are nearing completion as CCP Games has announced the finalization of a licensing agreement with Optic Communications. The aim is to launch the MMO in China by the third quarter of 2006.
Eve is a space-based MMO that’s been out for a while, but is seeing a steady increase in popularity as gamers discover the fun that awaits them in the Eve universe.
The opening of the China cluster follows the accelerated growth of EVE Online in the US and Europe during the past six months, and will be the first fully localized and separate game cluster established by CCP. Optic will introduce EVE Online to the Chinese player base with a large scale open beta commencing in Q2 of 2006.
The partnership between CCP Games and Optic Communications will open the industry's largest virtual universe to the world's most dynamic online games market. EVE Online(R) recently set the PCU (Peak Concurrent User) world record at 25,665 users, which is greater than the total capacity offered by any other MMOG in a single persistent universe.
"The completion of this license agreement with Optic Communications marks the establishment of CCP as a world wide leader in innovative online games and recognizes the enormous potential for EVE Online in Asia," said Hilmar Veigar Petursson, CEO of CCP Games. "Their local expertise and full backing of CITIC Pacific makes Optic Communications the ideal strategic partner to enter the China market with and further accelerate the growth of our subscriber base."
Optic Communications will provide the Chinese player base with a fully localized version of EVE Online(R), which includes nationwide marketing and sales coverage, management of game system operations, and 24/7 customer support service. CCP will work closely with Optic personnel to ensure that EVE Online is tailored to meet the tastes and demands of Chinese gamers.
In addition to setting new PCU records for virtual worlds several times since last year, EVE Online has nearly doubled its subscriber base in the past six months, and broke through the landmark milestone of 100,000 active subscribers in February of 2006.
Media release
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