BioWare Mythic Takes Over Warhammer Online Publishing In Europe

Electronic Arts subsidiary BioWare Mythic (previously Mythic Entertainment), developer of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, has taken over publishing, operating and subscription service rights for the MMORPG in Europe from GOA. GOA, which operates a portal for free-to-play MMOs, has managed Warhammer Online in Europe since its worldwide launch in September 2008. BioWare Mythic and EA published the subscription-based game, an online title inspired by Games Workshop's Warhammer Fantasy setting, in North America. As the game exchanges hands, BioWare Mythic expects to suspend access to Warhammer Online's European servers for 48 to 72 hours as new servers are brought online. It will migrate users' characters and account information to the new servers. The firm notes that it will give all current and former European subscribers 14 free days of gameplay, returning to standard billing rates afterward. It's also allowing new players to create a free endless trial account with a level 10 limitation. This announcement follows several months after GOA shut down its European operations for another subscription-based game developed by BioWare Mythic, nine-year-old MMORPG Dark Age of Camelot. The EA studio stepped in to take over publishing duties for that title last January. GOA has closed its servers for several other titles recently, such as UTV True Games' Warrior Epic and Kart n' Crazy -- the company said this allowed it to focus on other titles like Pangya, League of Legends and Warhammer Online. It also cancelled plans to publish UTV True Games' Mytheon in Europe, though Gamigo has since picked up those rights. "We thank GOA for the tremendous job they did launching WAR in Europe and serving this dynamic community for the past two years,” says Bioware Mythic general manager Eugene Evans. "Today, we’re excited to have the opportunity for BioWare Mythic to directly care for WAR players throughout Europe." He adds, "We are committed to providing the highest possible level of service and maintaining the glory of epic Realm vs. Realm battles for all European players.”"