The German publisher Gameforge is criticized for an IP block on its new anime MMO SoulWorker Online. An MMO site even speaks of shady business practices. Meanwhile, SoulWorker Online is now officially in soft launch. There will be no wipes in the open beta.
The German publisher Gameforge is distributing the Korean anime MMO SoulWorker Online in Europe and North America. Last week, the open beta started without much announcement. However, there is now trouble.
IP block after one week locks out players without warning
As reported by the Asia-MMO specialized site MMO Culture, SoulWorker suddenly has an IP block: all players who are not from North America or Europe can no longer play the game after one week.
This mainly affects players from Southeast Asia, who thought they could now play SoulWorker Online in English through the Gameforge version, as the game will probably not be released for their region.
The IP block was only announced when it was practically already implemented. Players from other regions had no prior warning. They are now very upset that they could download and play SoulWorker Online for a week and that this is now over.
On Facebook, numerous comments can be read, claiming it is the “worst IP block ever.” There is a great misunderstanding regarding this step.
MMO Culture even refers to a “shady” publisher. Gameforge had a year to announce this IP block, but they did not do so, instead making it known only after players from overseas had already invested time in the game.
Beta will have no wipes
Meanwhile, Gameforge announces that SoulWorker Online will have no wipes. Therefore, the characters will not be reset, and progress will be preserved.
This was not entirely clear before. Now it is, however, official and certain.
More about the game: SoulWorker – The anime MMO is now in open beta
