SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 4 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (Nasdaq: NCTY) ("The9") and Blizzard Entertainment(R) ("Blizzard") today announced that Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft(R), the subscription-based Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) has achieved record peak concurrency of 800,000, highest concurrency since the game's commercial launch in June 2005, after launching its new expansion pack, "The Burning Crusade", in mainland China on September 6, 2007.
We observed that numerous existing players return to or play more of the World of Warcraft(R) game after the launch of The Burning Crusade new expansion and new players have also been attracted to join. In the field of 3D MMORPG, the World of Warcraft(R) game is now in a leading position again and has written a new chapter to mainland China's online game history.
World of Warcraft(R): The Burning Crusade is the exciting new expansion to Blizzard's award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game. It expands the game by tremendous bounds, adding new races, lands, Battlegrounds, professions, items, and many more features.
About The9 Limited
The9 Limited is a leading online game operator in China. The9's business is primarily focused on operating and developing high-quality games for the Chinese online game market. The9 directly or through affiliates operates licensed MMORPGs, consisting of MU(R), Blizzard Entertainment(R)'s World of Warcraft(R), Soul of The Ultimate Nation(TM), and its first proprietary MMORPG, Joyful Journey West(TM), in mainland China. It has also obtained exclusive licenses to operate additional MMORPGs and advanced casual games in mainland China, including Granado Espada, Guild Wars, Hellgate: London, Ragnarok Online 2, Emil Chronicle Online, Huxley(TM), FIFA Online, Audition 2, Field of Honor and Audition. In addition, The9 is also developing two proprietary MMORPG games, Fantastic Melody Online(TM) and Ming Jiang San Guo.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release contain forward-looking statements. The9 may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 20-F and 6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about The9's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, The9's limited operating history as an online game operator, political and economic policies of the Chinese government, the laws and regulations governing the online game industry, information disseminated over the Internet and Internet content providers in China, intensified government regulation of Internet cafes, The9's ability to retain existing players and attract new players, license, develop or acquire additional online games that are appealing to users, anticipate and adapt to changing consumer preferences and respond to competitive market conditions, and other risks and uncertainties outlined in The9's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 20-F. The9 does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Dahlia Wei
Senior Manager, Investor Relations
The9 Limited
Tel: +86-21-5172-9990
Email: IR@corp.the9.com
Website: http://www.corp.the9.com/
