After 13 years in China and being published by 3 different publishers, the latest incarnation of Ragnarok Online will shut down in China on 19 February. Publisher Kalends took over publishing duties from Shanda back in 2013, with the son of China’s richest man, Wang Sicong (also founder of Invictus Gaming) pledging to start an elite guild. It seems the initial passion has died down.
Ragnarok Online first entered China in 2003 under Softworld Beijing, before transfering to Shanda Games in 2005, and finally Kalends (Kunlun Games) in 2013. Developer Gravity tried to revive Ragnarok Online recently with the new Doram race, but it seems the cuteness factor did not work miracles. The game is still popular in Japan, and perhaps the global English server will last as well.
