International online game developer and publisher Ankama today announced the launch of WAKFU in several Asian countries, and the opening of its subsidiary in Singapore to accelerate the company’s development in the region. This next strategic step for Ankama follows the opening of a new office in Montreal, Canada, in September 2013 and the appointment of Olivier Comte as the company’s Chief Operating Officer and Group Managing Director in October 2013.
Ankama has hired a new team for the Singapore office to drive marketing and PR operations, community management, and customer support in South East Asia.
“Singapore is a key location for us. Our office there will support the launch of WAKFU and other projects and IPs in Asia. We needed a dedicated team who had relevant knowledge of local markets and were close to potential partners and consumers. The offices will be the headquarters for our Asian operations, including partnerships and events,” said Olivier Comte, COO and Managing Director of Ankama.
Previously launched in Europe and North America, Ankama’s second MMORPG, WAKFU, is now available for the first time in Asia, where it is being marketed as a freemium title. The open beta began in December 2013 and the game has now been officially released in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. In China, the game will be distributed via Speedy Bird, with a closed beta starting on January 15th.
Creator of properties including trans-media brands DOFUS and WAKFU, the Ankama group of companies employs 450 people in France and its offices around the world.
