It has just been announced that Gala-Net, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Gala Networks Europe Ltd. (including its Irish operation) and Gala-Net Brazil Ltd., a publisher of free-to-play online games and operator of the gPotato portals, has been acquired by the South Korean company, WEBZEN, Inc., one of the leading companies in the MMO market.
“During this period and afterwards, we will develop strategies and come up with decisions on the continuation and future of our and WEBZEN’s brands for the European, North and South American markets”, explains Nicolas Pajot, CEO Gala Networks Europe.
Following this acquisition, gamers can expect more MMOs from WEBZEN’s portfolio to be available in Europe, North and South America. Additionally, all gPotato games are planned to continue their operation.
Founded and established in Seoul in 2000, Webzen Inc. is one of the leading companies in the MMOG market. One of WEBZEN’s most-known brands is MU Online, with more than 65 million registered users. WEBZEN have acquired YMIR Entertainment in 2011, perhaps most famous for the Metin series.
Gala and the gPotato portals will give WEBZEN access to the European and North American markets, as well as to more than 20 million registered players, and free-to-play MMORPGs such as Allods Online, Rappelz, Flyff, SEVENCORE and the upcoming Martial Arts-MMORPG, Age of Wulin, which will launch 2013 in Europe, and which is scheduled to enter its Closed Beta Testing phase soon.
Webzen and Gala Networks already started cooperating before the acquisition, by recently channelling the action MMORPG Continent of the Ninth Seal on the gPotato.com and gPotato.eu portals in North America and Europe.
About Gala-Net, Inc. and gPotato
Founded in 2004, Gala-Net, Inc. is a leading publisher of free-to-play online games. In 2006, the European subsidiary Gala Networks Europe Ltd. was founded in Dublin, Ireland.
About WEBZEN Inc.
Founded and headquartered in Seoul in 2000, WEBZEN Inc. (KOSDAQ) completed the merger with NHN Games in July 2010, and acquired YMIR Entertainment in 2011. WEBZEN has become a leader in the MMOG market and has developed one of the world’s top online games and client/server technologies. WEBZEN is continuing the tradition of MU Online, which boasts more than 65 million registered users, with Soul of the Ultimate Nation, and ARCHLORD.
They are currently working to release more new games including ARCHLORD 2 and MU2 , which is under development. More information on ‘WEBZEN.com’ and its games can be found at www.webzen.com.