Guild Wars Factions Beta Event Announced

GUILD WARS FACTIONS TO BE UNVEILED IN MASSIVE

BETA TESTING EVENT AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN 3 MILLION GAMERS

ArenaNet Opens Up Highly Anticipated Game to Global Beta Test and Announces Pre-Order Availability

BELLEVUE, WA (February 9, 2006) – ArenaNet®, creators of the #1 selling online roleplaying game Guild Wars®, and NCsoft® Corporation, the world’s leading developer and publisher of online computer games, announce today plans for a landmark event to preview Guild Wars Factions™, the highly anticipated follow up to 2005’s critically acclaimed game Guild Wars. On March 24, 2006, game players around the globe are invited to participate in the Guild Wars Factions Preview Event, an exclusive and one-time opportunity unlike any offered before.

All current Guild Wars players can join the event, and will be able to invite up to three of their friends using an in-game invitation interface. Entry into the beta event will also be available through the Guild Wars Factions pre-order package, which will include the Guild Wars Factions (GWF) pre-order CD, a GWF beta access key, a “friend” key that allows access to the beta event, a 14-day, 10-hour trial key for the original Guild Wars game, a tactical guide, and a quick-reference card. The Guild Wars Factions pre-order key also adds one unique item for each of the game’s two new professions, the Ritualist and the Assassin, and authorizes the user to play Guild Wars Factions 24 hours before the game’s street date in spring 2006. The Guild Wars Factions pre-order package will be available in retail stores nationwide beginning February 28.

A game beta test of this size and scope has never been offered before and is a unique event for both fans and the ArenaNet team alike. With current Guild Wars players, their invited friends, and players around the world who purchase the GWF pre-order converging on the game for the Guild Wars Factions Preview Event, ArenaNet is preparing capacity in all its data centers to handle record-breaking numbers of new players.

“To be able to open up Guild Wars Factions and share this one-time experience with so many people is truly a thrill,” said Mike O’Brien, ArenaNet co-founder. “Guild Wars players will get the opportunity to play Factions before the game’s release while sharing the game with up to three of their friends. We can’t wait for the feedback from the seasoned players, as well as those who join us for the first time on March 24.” 

Guild Wars is an online roleplaying game where players explore a rich fantasy world, acquire skills, build personalized characters, and compete in head-to-head guild battles with players from around the world. In addition to the compelling game design and innovative technology that make playing Guild Wars a unique experience, Guild Wars’ success is due in part to a revolutionary business model in which no monthly subscription fee is charged to its users.

Please visit www.guildwars.com for more information, or contact Jenny Bendel at 206.979.2202 or [email protected].

About ArenaNet
ArenaNet, located in Bellevue, Washington, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NCsoft Corporation. ArenaNet has built a state-of-the-art, interactive game network and develops premier multiplayer online games for dedicated game players. ArenaNet’s first title, Guild Wars, is a global online roleplaying game that allows gamers to play with anyone, anytime and anywhere in the world.  Its highly-anticipated follow up, Guild Wars Factions, will be released Spring 2006.  More information about ArenaNet can be found at www.arena.net.

About NCsoft Corporation
Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, NCsoft Corporation is the world’s leading developer and publisher of online games. Founded in 1997, NCsoft is home to Lineage®, the world’s most successful online roleplaying game. NCsoft has joint venture offices located in Japan, Taiwan, and China, as well as branches in North America and the United Kingdom. In fiscal year 2004, NCsoft posted revenues of KRW (Korean Won) 246 billion or approximately US$246 million. More information about NCsoft can be found at www.plaync.com.