Yoozoo Games
{{Short description|Chinese video game company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Yoozoo Games
| native_name = 游族网络有限股份公司
| native_name_lang = zh
| romanized_name = Yóuzú Wǎngluò Yǒuxiàn Gǔfèn Gōngsī
| type = Limited partnership
| traded_as = {{SZSE|002174}}
| founder = Lin Qi
| num_employees = 2000
| industry = Video games
| homepage = {{URL|global.yoozoo.com}} {{URL|gtarcade.com}}
}}
{{Chinese
| order = st
| s = 游族网络股份有限公司
| t = 游族網絡股份有限公司
| p = Yóuzú Wǎngluò Gǔfènyǒuxiàngōngsī
}}
Yoozoo Games (trading name of Youzu Interactive) is a video game developer and publisher of browser and mobile games, primarily massively multiplayer online games (MMORPG), in Asia, Europe and North America. The company was founded in 2009 by Lin Qi, created GTArcade and started publishing its titles overseas in 2013,{{cite web|last1=MJ|first1=Guthrie|title=League of Angels starts closed beta on December 4th|url=http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/22/league-of-angels-starts-closed-beta-on-december-4th/|website=Massively by Joystiq|access-date=22 November 2013|archive-date=24 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124233143/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/22/league-of-angels-starts-closed-beta-on-december-4th|url-status=dead}} and was listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange in 2014.{{cite web|title=Youzu Interactive Co Ltd|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/002174:CH|website=Bloomberg|access-date=2017-03-12|archive-date=2016-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509161347/http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/002174:CH|url-status=live}}
Many of its games obtain revenue from the sale of virtual goods{{cite web|title=Audit Report & Financial Statements (From 1 January 2011 to 31 August 2013)|url=http://www.cninfo.com.cn/finalpage/2013-10-24/63186753.PDF|website=cninfo.com.cn|access-date=24 October 2014|archive-date=5 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905150222/http://www.cninfo.com.cn/finalpage/2013-10-24/63186753.PDF|url-status=dead}} and the majority are developed in-house. Its most popular international game is a browser-based MMORPG titled League of Angels. This game began as a stand-alone game for the Chinese market but later was adapted for a growing international market. The game was released in English-speaking countries in late 2013 and now has over 300 servers in operation.{{cite web|title=League of Angels Server List|url=http://angel.gtarcade.com/server|website=League of Angels Official Website|access-date=2014-07-24|archive-date=2014-07-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721110349/http://angel.gtarcade.com/server|url-status=live}}
Its headquarters are in Xuhui District, Shanghai.{{cite web|url=https://www.yoozoo.com/connect|title=Contact Us|publisher=Yoozoo Games|access-date=2021-02-14|quote=公司地址：上海市徐汇区宜山路711号华鑫中心2号楼|archive-date=2021-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124153622/https://www.yoozoo.com/connect|url-status=live}}
History
Lin Qi (Chinese: 林奇；pinyin: LINQI, born in 1981 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang), also known as Titan Lin, was a Chinese entrepreneur and founder of Youzu Interactive. The company, which produces games for both its home markets and overseas markets, was acquired by Susino Umbrella{{cite web|title = SUSINO UMBRELLA CO., LTD.|url = http://www.susino.com/en/about.asp|website = www.susino.com|access-date = 2015-10-22|archive-date = 2016-03-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035018/http://www.susino.com/en/about.asp|url-status = dead}} in an all-stock deal in 2014. Lin Qi owned approximately 100.9 million shares of Youzu, which were last valued at $2.2 billion, according to Wealth-X.{{cite web|title = Wealth-X Reveals: Asia's Top 10 Wealthiest Millennials|url = http://www.wealthx.com/articles/2015/wealth-x-reveals-asias-top-10-wealthiest-millennials/|website = Wealth-X|access-date = 2015-10-22|language = en|archive-date = 2015-09-29|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150929045749/http://www.wealthx.com/articles/2015/wealth-x-reveals-asias-top-10-wealthiest-millennials/|url-status = live}} On December 25, 2020, Lin Qi died at age 39. He was allegedly poisoned on December 16 by one of his colleagues,{{cite magazine |last1=Aquilina |first1=Tyler |title=Lin Qi, producer on Game of Thrones creators' Netflix series, dies after suspected poisoning |url=https://ew.com/tv/lin-qi-producer-on-game-of-thrones-creators-netflix-series-dies-poisoned/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=28 December 2020}}{{Cite news|date=2020-12-25|title=Yoozoo Games CEO Lin Dies at 39 Amid Poisoning Probe|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-25/yoozoo-games-ceo-lin-dies-at-39-amid-police-probe-over-poisoning|access-date=2020-12-26|archive-date=2020-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225225936/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-25/yoozoo-games-ceo-lin-dies-at-39-amid-police-probe-over-poisoning|url-status=live}} Xu Yao, who was sentenced to death in 2024 for the murder.{{Cite news|date=22 March 2024|title=Former executive given death sentence in poisoning of founder of high-flying Chinese gaming company |language=en|work=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/china-yoozoo-game-thrones-poison-death-sentence-6de51607b0dd41c32ad41b63387d5457 |access-date=22 March 2024}} {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/ex-gaming-exec-company-3-body-problem-film-rights-sentenced-death-1235872375/|title=Ex-Gaming Exec With Company That Owns ‘3-Body Problem’ Film Rights Sentenced To Death In China|publisher=Deadline}}
Youzu Games HongKong Limited was founded in early 2013 in Hong Kong{{cite web|title=YOUZU GAMES HONGKONG LIMITED|url=http://webb-site.com/dbpub/orgdata.asp?p=2061781|website=Webb-site|access-date=2014-07-24|archive-date=2016-06-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604224339/https://webb-site.com/dbpub/orgdata.asp?p=2061781|url-status=live}} and focuses on localizing and operating massively multiplayer games in North America and Europe. In 2016, Youzu bought German online game developer Bigpoint for $89.7 million.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/03/22/chinas-youzu-interactive-buys-germanys-online-game-developer-bigpoint-for-89-7m/|title=China's Youzu Interactive buys German online game developer Bigpoint for $89.7M|website=VentureBeat|date=22 March 2016|access-date=2016-04-10|archive-date=2016-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420174835/http://venturebeat.com/2016/03/22/chinas-youzu-interactive-buys-germanys-online-game-developer-bigpoint-for-89-7m/|url-status=live}}
Video games
=''League of Angels''=
File:Wikia-Gamescom-2016-231 (28967808002).jpg 2016]]
League of Angels (Abbreviation: LoA) is an MMORPG released in December 2013 by Youzu Interactive.{{cite web|title=Youzu COO Talks League of Angels' Wes tern Operation, Marketing, & More|url=http://2p.com/8300129_1/Youzu-COO-Talks-League-of-Angels-Western-Operation-Marketing-amp-More-by-Ink.htm|website=F2P NEWS|date=13 August 2014|access-date=22 January 2015|archive-date=22 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122130931/http://2p.com/8300129_1/Youzu-COO-Talks-League-of-Angels-Western-Operation-Marketing-amp-More-by-Ink.htm|url-status=live}} LoA
League of Angels II (also League of Angels 2 or LoA2) is the 2016 sequel to the 2013 game. Its impending release was announced on March 15,{{cite web|url=http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/4586.html|title=League of Angels II Ushers in a New Age for MMORPGs _ League of Angels II Official Site|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2018-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322125958/http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/4586.html|url-status=live}} and a 5,000-player closed beta ran from March 24{{cite web|url=http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/4691.html|title=LoA II Closed Beta Successfully Launched!_League of Angels II Official Site|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2018-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330071736/http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/4691.html|url-status=live}} to 31,{{cite web|url=http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/4779.html|title=March 31st : Farewell Closed Beta, Hello Open Beta! - GTArcade|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2017-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121215309/http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/4779.html|url-status=live}} then replaced with an open beta. It launched on April 8 in North America, and two weeks later there was a free gold giveaway to promote playing.{{cite web |work=PCGamesN |url=http://www.pcgamesn.com/league-of-angels-2-giveaway |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423131713/http://www.pcgamesn.com/league-of-angels-2-giveaway |date=22 April 2016 |archive-date=23 April 2016 |title=League of Angels II giveaway}} The game's European release occurred on May 19.{{cite web|url=http://leagueofangels2.fr/|title=League Of Angels 2 - Découvrez LoA 2|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2017-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121090217/http://www.leagueofangels2.fr/|url-status=live}} The game's first multilanguage release (English, French, German, simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese) was released on May 26,{{cite web|url=http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/5413.html|title=League of Angels II Launching Multi-Language Edition|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2018-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320224208/http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/5413.html|url-status=live}} then in Portuguese and Spanish on June 23.{{cite web|url=http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/5816.html|title=Spanish and Portuguese Will Be Available on June 23rd!|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030752/http://loa2.gtarcade.com/news/5816.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |work=Business Wire |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160622006037/en/League-Angels-II-Spanish-Portuguese |date=22 June 2016 |title=League of Angels II Now Available in Spanish and Portuguese |first=Marketing Director |last=Zou Michelle |access-date=19 March 2018 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031612/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160622006037/en/League-Angels-II-Spanish-Portuguese |url-status=live }}
=''Infinity Kingdom''=
Infinity Kingdom (Abbreviated as IK) is a freemium cartoon mobile strategy video game, released on January 28, 2021, for both iOS and Android. The Android version was released on Google Play, Huawei Appgallery, and Samsung Galaxy Store. An APK is also available on the Infinity Kingdom website. A PC version was released on Steam{{cite web|title=Infinity Kingdom on Steam|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1573360/Infinity_Kingdom/|access-date=2021-08-07|website=Welcome to Steam|language=en|archive-date=2021-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807111044/https://store.steampowered.com/app/1573360/Infinity_Kingdom/|url-status=live}} on July 2, 2021.
The game is currently available in English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Thai, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese and Tradiditonal Chinese. For the future, Korean, Japanese, Arabic and Bengali translations are planned.
=Other games=
- Drakensang Online
- DarkOrbit
- Fire Raiders
- Knight's Fable – browser-based MMORPG May 2014{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Neilie|title=Knights Fable Open Beta Begins May 29th|url=http://www.mmorpg.com/newsroom.cfm/read/31229/General-Knights-Fable-Open-Beta-Begins-May-29th.html|website=mmorpg.com|date=24 May 2014|access-date=24 May 2014|archive-date=29 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529020212/http://www.mmorpg.com/newsroom.cfm/read/31229/General-Knights-Fable-Open-Beta-Begins-May-29th.html|url-status=live}}
- Magerealm – browser-based MMORPG December 2015
- Legacy of Discord{{cite web |date=15 November 2016 |url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Legacy+of+Discord+-+Furious+Wings/news.asp?c=72094 |work=Pocket Gamer |title=We catch up with Youzu to get the inside track on Legacy of Discord – Furious Wings |quote=From the developers who brought you other great titles including League of Angels – Fire Raiders and Youth of the Three Kingdoms |access-date=2 December 2016 |archive-date=2 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202234301/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Legacy+of+Discord+-+Furious+Wings/news.asp?c=72094 |url-status=live }}
- Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website | https://global.yoozoo.com}} {{in lang|en}}
Category:Browser-based game websites
Category:Chinese companies established in 2009
Category:Video game companies established in 2009
Category:Companies based in Shanghai
Category:Companies listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange
Category:Video game companies of China