While it was understood that the China server’s rights were sold by The9 to Qihoo 360 weeks ago, the main details were announced just hours earlier. The contract term is 5 years, with the payables worth at least US$160 million, including license fee and royalties during the contract period.
System Link Limited, a joint venture formed by The9 and Qihoo 360, will be handling the publishing and operations. Interestingly, the money will be paid to subsidiary Red 5 Singapore, instead of The9 or Red 5 Studios in North America. It would also seem the Southeast Asia server is dead for now.
Firefall was expected to be “the next big thing” in the online gaming and eSports industry, but sadly Red 5 Studios flunked in almost all aspects, including management and development. The game recently launched in the English market, but thus far, reception and reviews have been lukewarm.
