Atlantica Online regional versions and publisher changes, 2008 to 2016
Atlantica Online passed through several publishers in a few years. This page lists each change with the outlet that reported it. It also records the Steam versions VALOFE published from 2020.
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Four changes of publisher or version
- 3Sep2008
Nexon Japan is reported as publisher of the Japanese version.
GamingNexus - 21Oct2008
Gamania signs a Taiwan publishing deal with NDOORS.
GamingNexus - 20122012
Ignited Games runs Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese versions.
- 16Jul2016
Nexon Europe announces the handover of the German version to Valofe.
Mein-MMO
Asia first, then the West
The Korean service began in January 2008, according to GamingNexus, which reported on 3 September 2008 that NDOORS was behind it. In the same report Nexon Japan was named as the publisher of the Japanese version, under an agreement with NDOORS.
Taiwan came next. GamingNexus reported on 21 October 2008 that NDOORS had signed a publishing deal with Gamania.
RPGFan says the North American servers had been up and running since 30 October 2008.
Publisher changes by date
Dates are the date of the report named in the last column
January 2008
- Change
- Commercial launch in Korea by NDOORS
- Source
- GamingNexus, 3 September 2008
3 September 2008
- Change
- Nexon Japan reported as publisher of the Japanese version
- Source
- GamingNexus
21 October 2008
- Change
- Gamania signs a Taiwan publishing deal with NDOORS
- Source
- GamingNexus
30 October 2008
- Change
- North American servers go live
- Source
- RPGFan
22 March 2011
- Change
- Nexon takes over North American publishing and servicing from NDOORS
- Source
- Engadget, 9 March 2011; Ten Ton Hammer
2012
- Change
- Ignited Games site lists Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese versions
- Source
- Ignited Games line-up
16 July 2016
- Change
- Nexon Europe announces handover of the German version to Valofe
- Source
- Mein-MMO
14 May 2020
- Change
- VALOFE publishes Atlantica Global on Steam, free to play
- Source
- Steam store page
20 May 2021
- Change
- VALOFE publishes Atlantica Europe on Steam, free to play
- Source
- Steam store page
The first row is the launch month given in a later report, not a separate dated announcement.
The 2011 handover in North America
Justin Olivetti wrote on Engadget on 9 March 2011 that Nexon had decided to take over the publishing and servicing duties directly as of 22 March. Accounts created with NDOORS could still be used to log in until 19 April, the report says. Ten Ton Hammer's coverage describes NDOORS as Nexon's wholly owned studio, so the change moved the game inside one corporate group.
Spanish and Portuguese under Ignited Games
By 2012 Ignited Games published five titles, and Atlantica Online was among them in a Spanish and a Brazilian Portuguese version. Its launch date, contract terms and player numbers are unknown.
Readers sometimes assume Ignited Games also ran the English game. The reports point elsewhere: Nexon held North American publishing from March 2011, and nothing places Ignited in North America or Europe.
Europe moves to Valofe
Mein-MMO reported on 16 July 2016 that Nexon Europe was giving the game to Valofe after seven years in Germany. The handover was set for autumn 2016. No exact date appears in the report.
Steam versions from 2020
VALOFE's store pages on Steam list Atlantica Global with a release date of 14 May 2020 and Atlantica Europe with 20 May 2021. Both show Free to Play and a Play Game button, and name VALOFE as publisher.
How these versions relate to the 2012 Spanish and Portuguese servers that Ignited Games ran is unclear.
Gaps in the record
This page gives no shutdown date for the North American version. The number of mercenary types is also missing: the Ten Ton Hammer developer diary of 20 July 2008 states the eight-mercenary limit and seven weapon types but does not count the mercenaries themselves.
Questions about the versions
Who published Atlantica Online in North America?
NDOORS at launch on 30 October 2008 per RPGFan, then Nexon from 22 March 2011 per Engadget.
Which versions did Ignited Games run?
The Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese versions, as of 2012.
When did the North American version shut down?
No shutdown date is on record.
Who took over the European version?
Valofe, according to Mein-MMO on 16 July 2016, with the transfer announced for autumn 2016.
How many mercenary types are there?
No number is given. The developer diary only gives the limit of eight mercenaries in a fight.
Which versions can I play today?
VALOFE's Steam store pages list Atlantica Global (released 14 May 2020) and Atlantica Europe (released 20 May 2021), both free to play. No running Ignited Games version was found.