Digital River Powers Global E-Commerce Operations for Guild Wars 2, ArenaNet’s Best-Selling MMO Game
MINNEAPOLIS — Jan. 30, 2014 — Digital River, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRIV), a leading global provider of Commerce-as-a-Service solutions, announced that it signed an agreement to provide global e-commerce services for ArenaNet, developer of the acclaimed Guild Wars franchise. Based on the agreement, Digital River is powering an online store at http://buy.guildwars2.com/ to support the e-commerce experience of ArenaNet’s Guild Wars 2, one of the fastest growing MMOs with more than 3 million games sold. In the new store, Digital River is managing digital game purchases for theheroic and deluxe editions as well as sales of official strategy guides. In addition, Digital River is managing in-game purchases of Guild Wars 2 virtual currency, called Gems.
Digital River tailored the in-store and in-game e-commerce solution to meet the purchasing preferences of the broad demographic of Guild Wars 2 players. The e-commerce experience offers gamers general payment options, including major credit cards and PayPal, as well as regionally preferred payment methods, such as the ELV in Germany. Gamers also can redeem Guild Wars 2 point of sale activation (POSA) cards, commonly called Gem Cards, which are an alternative payment type. Gem Cards are bought in brick-and-mortar stores and include a digital key or code that can be redeemed through the Guild Wars 2 in-game store during game play. Players use Gems during game play to buy a selection of costumes, color dyes and boosts, among other things, to enhance the gaming experience.
“We selected Digital River because they can help us gain added insights into our customers’ shopping behaviors and preferences as well as deliver an enhanced buying and gaming experience,” said Randall Price, senior vice president of global business for ArenaNet. “We are looking forward to providing our players with added levels of service and payment options that meet their needs around the world.”
“We are thrilled to support international e-commerce operations for ArenaNet’s award-winning MMO, Guild Wars 2,” said Tom Peterson, executive vice president and general manager of commerce for Digital River. “We intend to put our global commerce platform and revenue growth expertise in the games and digital goods industries to work in helping ArenaNet expand their user base and monetize Guild Wars 2 throughout the gaming experience — at the initial purchase and during game play.”
About ArenaNet, LLC
ArenaNet® is the developer of the ground-breaking Guild Wars 2 and the best-selling Guild Wars online role-playing games. The studio’s mission is to create innovative online worlds, cultivate a vibrant and engaged global community of players, and to incorporate hand-crafted artistry into every aspect of their games. ArenaNet was formed in 2000 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea-based NCSOFT Corporation.
About Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2® is a visually stunning MMO that offers players the epic grandeur of a massive role playing environment combined with innovative combat mechanics, dynamic events, and customized personal storytelling. Building on the success of Guild Wars, NCSOFT and game developer ArenaNet have created an MMO that lets gamers play the way they want, while at the same time retaining the no-subscription-fee business model that made the original Guild Wars so popular. For more information about Guild Wars 2, visit www.guildwars2.com.
About Digital River, Inc.
Backed by 20 years of e-commerce experience, Digital River is recognized as a leading global provider of Commerce-as-a-Service solutions. Companies of all sizes rely on Digital River’s multi-tenant, SaaS commerce, payments and marketing services to manage and grow their online businesses. In the last year, Digital River processed more than $28 billion in online transactions, connecting B2B and B2C digital products and cloud service companies as well as branded manufacturers with buyers across multiple devices and channels, and nearly every country in the world.
Digital River is headquartered in Minneapolis with offices across the U.S., Asia, Europe and South America. For more details about Digital River, visit the corporate website, follow the company on Twitter or call +1 952-253-1234.
Forward-Looking Statement
In addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements, such as statements containing the words, “will,” “plans,” “intends,” “expects,” and similar words. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Digital River, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: Digital River’s operating history and variability of operating results; competition in the electronic commerce market; the ability of Digital River to support e-commerce operations for ArenaNet’s Guild Wars 2 game; the market’s acceptance of such offerings; and other risk factors referenced in Digital River’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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