Type | Gaming |
---|---|
Industry | Game developer and publisher |
Founded | March 2004 |
Headquarters | Huzhou, China |
Parent | Perfect World Co. |
Website | http://www.pwrd.com/ |
Perfect World Games is a Chinese video game developer and video game publisher specializing in massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Perfect World was founded in 2004 by Chi Yufeng, the president of Human Software Corporation.[1] The company aims to develop and market games with Chinese characteristics.
Perfect World Entertainment is the company’s North American online games publisher specializing in immersive free-to-play MMORPGs founded in 2008.
Created in early 2010, in Amsterdam, Perfect World Europe focuses on localizing and operating massively multiplayer games in Europe. As of 2011, it has Jade Dynasty as well as Forsaken World in both French and German.[3]
Runic Games was a Seattle-based developer founded in 2008, acquired by Perfect World in 2010[4] and shut down in 2017.[5]
On October 18, 2012, Valve announced an agreement granting Perfect World exclusive rights to market and distribute Dota 2 in mainland China. CEO Robert Hong Xiao stated that his company was "confident that adding this action strategy game to our diverse portfolio of games will bring additional world-class entertainment and premier gaming experiences to our players in China."[6]
On February 25, 2016, Perfect World hosted Dota 2's Shanghai Major. While the tournament itself was well received in regards to the player performances, the event garnered criticism due to delays on stream, spotty broadcasts and various other problems within the tournament, including the theft and deterioration of the competing teams' equipment.[7] In the month that followed the event, the president of Perfect World, Yunfan Zhang, apologized for the issues with the event.[8]
On September 24, 2017, Valve announced on the Counter-Strike blog that Perfect World would also be distributing Counter-Strike in the Chinese market through the company's service.[9]
On June 12, 2018, Perfect World announced their subsidiary Perfect World Zhengqi (Chinese: 蒸汽; literally: 'steam') would collaborate with Valve and build "Steam China". All games on Steam China will be checked by the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China.[10] Most Steam users criticized Perfect World, believing it will destroy the Chinese game market. China Central Television (CCTV) has also mentioned these concerns during their "Live News" on Channel 13 (News Channel).[citation needed]