Arc Games Explained

Arc Games Inc.
Type:	Subsidiary
Industry:	Video games
Hq Location City:	Redwood City, California
Hq Location Country:	US

Arc Games (formerly known as Perfect World Entertainment and Gearbox Publishing San Francisco), is a video game publisher. Founded in 2008 as the North American branch of the Chinese company Perfect World, they currently operate their former parent company's titles outside China as well as publishing various video games.

Originally formed to localize Perfect World's games for international audiences, Perfect World Entertainment is also publishing games from sister-company developers Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online, Champions Online, Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter) and Runic Games (Torchlight series and Hob), which they had acquired in 2011.^[1]

In December 2021, Perfect World Entertainment was acquired by Embracer Group and merged into The Gearbox Entertainment Company and rebranded as Gearbox Publishing San Francisco.^{[2] [3]}

Embracer announced their plans to sell The Gearbox Entertainment Company to Take-Two Interactive in March 2024, with Gearbox Publishing San Francisco being retained by Embracer.^[4] They subsequently rebranded as Arc Games in April of that year.^{[5] [6] [7]}

Published games

Developed by Perfect World

• Legend of Martial Arts^[8]
• Heroes of Three Kingdoms^[8]
• Rusty Hearts^[9]
• Perfect World International - September 2008
• Ether Saga Online - March 2009
• Jade Dynasty - June 2009
• Battle of the Immortals - May 2010
• Forsaken World - March 2011
• War of the Immortals - December 2011
• Fortuna - July 2013
• Elemental Kingdoms - 2014
• Swordsman Online - July 2014
• Livelock - August 2016
• Arena of Heroes
• Torchlight Mobile
• Don't Even Think - 2019

Other games

!Year!Name!Platforms!Developer!Notes

2009	Torchlight	Windows, OS X, Linux, Xbox 360	Runic Games	Published by Microsoft Studios on Xbox 360
	Champions Online	Windows	Cryptic Studios	Originally published by Atari
2010	Star Trek Online	Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2012	Torchlight II	Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch	Runic Games
		Windows, PlayStation 4	Zombie Studios	Windows version is discontinued
2013	Neverwinter	Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch	Cryptic Studios
2015	Gigantic	Windows, Xbox One	Motiga	Discontinued
2016	Livelock	Windows	Tuque Games
2017	Hob	Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch	Runic Games
2019		Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch	Gunfire Games
2020	Torchlight III		Echtra Games
2023	Have a Nice Death	Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S	Magic Design Studios
	Remnant 2	Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S	Gunfire Games
	UFO: Unidentified Falling Objects	Windows, Nintendo Switch	Andrew Morrish
2024	Gigantic: Rampage Edition	Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S	Abstraction Games
	Hyper Light Breaker	Windows	Heart Machine
2025	Fellowship	Windows	Chief Rebel

Notes and References

1. Web site: Perfect World and Atari Announce Agreement for the Acquisition of Cryptic Studios . 2011-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110603023416/http://gamutnews.com/20110531/12089/perfect-world-and-atari-announce-agreement-for-the-acquisition-of-cryptic-studios.html . 2011-06-03 . dead .
2. Embracer Group Enters Into Agreement To Acquire Perfect World Entertainment . December 21, 2021 . December 21, 2021 . .
3. Web site: Perfect World rebrands as Gearbox Publishing after Embracer purchase . Chris . Kerr . April 22, 2022 . April 22, 2022 . .
4. Web site: Valentine . Rebekah . 2024-03-28 . Take-Two Buys Gearbox From Embracer, Confirms Development on New Borderlands Game . 2024-03-29 . IGN . en.
5. Web site: 2024-04-08 . We Are Now Arc Games . 2024-04-09 . Arc Games. en.
6. Web site: Carter . Justin . April 8, 2024 . Still in Embracer's custody, Gearbox Publishing SF rebrands to Arc Games . 2024-04-22 . www.gamedeveloper.com . en.
7. Web site: Rousseau . Jeffrey . 2024-04-09 . Gearbox Publishing San Francisco is now Arc Games . 2024-04-22 . GamesIndustry.biz . en.
8. Web site: LOMA/HOTK – Important announcement from PWE. 2012-04-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120405234050/http://www.perfectworld.com/blog/?p=342111 . 2012-04-05 .
9. Web site: Perfect World to Shut Down Rusty Hearts on September 15th. 2024-04-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141128234021/http://news.mmosite.com/content/2014-08-04/perfect_world_to_shut_down_rusty_hearts_on_september_15th.shtml . 2014-11-28 .