Realtime repurchases APB rights

Dundee-based studio parts with Webzen on upcoming gang-warfare MMOG in wake of $50M funding; PC launch in 2009, beta later this year.

Last week, Crackdown creator Realtime Worlds officially announced that it had secured $50 million in funding for the "continued growth and expansion as the company develops new creative properties and brings innovative online gaming experiences to market." A specific use for that cash has emerged today, as the Dundee, Scotland-based developer said that it has repurchased the distribution rights to its urban-warfare massively multiplayer online game APB from Webzen.

While terms of the deal were not disclosed, a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing sheds some light on the particulars. Under the original deal, Webzen, which signed on to distribute APB in February 2005, was to pay out to Realtime Worlds 10 percent of all online revenues and 20 percent of all retail revenues for a period of five years after the launch of the game in exchange for funding development time on APB. With the change in contract, Realtime Worlds will now be paying Webzen 15 percent of all net receipts for three years following APB's commercial release, and the former distributor of the game will "retrieve some of the development cost at the first year."

While APB had initially been slated to appear for the Xbox 360 and the PC, a Realtime Worlds spokesperson told GameSpot that the PC edition was the developer's priority and will be the first to market. Noting that Crackdown was the only game to fall under the exclusivity contract the studio signed with Microsoft in 2005, the RTW rep said that if it does proceed with console editions of the game, both an Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version are on the table, confirming rumors sparked last week concerning a possible edition of the game on Sony's console.

Development on APB is led by Grand Theft Auto creator Dave Jones. Similar to the franchise most closely associated with Jones' name, APB deals in contemporary, open-world, gang-fueled warfare, where players operate on both sides of the law to build street cred. The game is currently scheduled to be released for PCs in 2009, and Realtime Worlds has said it plans to launch a closed and an open beta later this year.

38 Comments

  • LastPRmarine

    Posted Jul 25, 2008 1:23 pm PT

    realtime said its coming out for 360 and PS3 along with the PC

  • yosef95

    Posted Jun 6, 2008 6:07 am PT

    on the pc!

  • yosef95

    Posted Jun 6, 2008 6:07 am PT

    this game will own

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Apr 24, 2008 9:52 am PT

    niteowl74 When is Webzen putting out Huxley?

    Dunno, but i wannit!!!

  • creepster32000

    Posted Apr 23, 2008 3:43 am PT

    Woot ps3 available i was checking this out when ps3 was almost a yr behind of release an was angered an i believe if this woulda came out b4 ps3 i woulda been a 360 buyer

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Apr 22, 2008 5:17 pm PT

    The game is currently scheduled to be released for PCs in 2009, and Realtime Worlds has said it plans to launch a closed and an open beta later this year. See the thing is by the time game comes out for videogame consoles GTA IV will dwarf it with it's online play seeing as how the cops and robbers angle has already been implemented as one note one of Grand Theft Auto IV's online 16 player multiplayer modes. Also of note didn't Dave Jones himself once say that APB is not an MMO? I could of sworn he said that in an earlier covered event. So that means outside of the visual leveling up you can do clothingwise and the ability to make a male or female character (also available in Saints Row 2) plus the now even further delayed release this game won't be likely to make its money back anytime soon even if it was heading to consoles. Also who among the PC crowd here wants another MMO? Hey enjoy it its yours.

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Apr 22, 2008 5:13 pm PT

    The game is currently scheduled to be released for PCs in 2009, and Realtime Worlds has said it plans to launch a closed and an open beta later this year. See the thing is by the time game comes out for videogame consoles GTA IV will dwarf it with it's online play seeing as how the cops and robbers angle has already been implemented as one note one of Grand Theft Auto IV's online 16 player multiplayer modes. Also of note didn't Dave Jones himself once say that APB is not an MMO? I could of sworn he said that in an earlier covered event. So that means outside of the visual leveling up you can do clothingwise and the ability to make a male or female character (also available in Saints Row 2) plus the now even further delayed release this game won't be likely to make its money back anytime soon even if it was heading to consoles. Also who among the PC crowd here wants another MMO? Hey enjoy it its yours.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Apr 22, 2008 3:30 pm PT

    PC 1st then 360? no problem, i can wait : ) as they're both VISTA it makes sense to me. Its good to see devs taking the MMO route seriously, its a fantastic gaming experience and cant wait.

  • Destroyeron13

    Posted Apr 22, 2008 3:15 pm PT

    I'm definitely gonna be a cop, I think it'll be great.

  • pourya_ahmadian

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 11:36 pm PT

    only XBOX360;the games are so great like the console;

  • niteowl74

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 11:13 pm PT

    When is Webzen putting out Huxley?

  • stakex007

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 7:45 pm PT

    lol 1valiantknight thats hilarious... but there is one bright side with APB. You can be a cop too... so the game also shows kids how to shoot criminals. Hopefully it balances out nicely....

    On a side note, its great to see a developer making a game with the PC as its priority. The console world can go play some more Halo while we enjoy this for a while.

  • 1valiantknight

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 7:01 pm PT

    This game will teach kids how to shoot cops........lol......sorry I just wanted everyone to hear how stupid that sounds, and to get ready because we'll probably hear some moronic politician or lawyer spewing such nonsense soon.

  • DrKill09

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 6:46 pm PT

    Geez... this game keeps getting pushed back. I was hoping it would be released this year.

  • jdukes247

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 6:03 pm PT

    hope this game makes it

  • higherARC

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 4:37 pm PT

    Ummmm Crackdown is a Microsoft "OWNED" IP. Ps3 will never see Crackdown on their console.

  • brood_aliance

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 4:29 pm PT

    That is the greatest news ever. Now we know its actually going to come out.

  • PhantomPlayers

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 3:39 pm PT

    $50 million is a lot of money. This game is going to be really good if it can secure that much money.

  • Kenaue

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 3:30 pm PT

    I want it on PS3. Crackdown was amazing, and the more people that can experience this, the better.

  • littleboomer

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 2:36 pm PT

    i really want it to be released on the PS3. I saw the video and it looked awesome. Hope it will be as good as GTA IV or better.

  • The_PC_Gamer

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 2:31 pm PT

    Realtime Worlds spokesperson told GameSpot that the PC edition was the developer's priority and will be the first to market.

    Thats how we roll.

  • t8trg8tr

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 2:28 pm PT

    I need the beta, NEED IT!

  • MrNib

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 1:44 pm PT

    I can has beta please.

  • wmc540

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 1:18 pm PT

    WTF IS APB???

  • BigDaveyDogz

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 1:05 pm PT

    I'm very excited about APB after reading and watching the vids. Its kinda like how GTA4's multiplayer will be...except MMO style which could be insanely awesome imo.

    Edit: SPHYNXA I don't see anything on that link about a story...

  • SPHYNXA

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 12:59 pm PT

    Sorry to burst your guys' bubble, but Realtime Worlds confirmed back in September that there would not be a sequel for Crackdown, both due to the fact that they were going to focus all of their development time on APB, and that "Microsoft were a little late in stepping up to the plate to ask for Crackdown 2", according to the game's producer, Phil Wilson

    Link: http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/07/no-crackdown-sequel-in-development/

  • club-sandwich

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 12:18 pm PT

    PS3 version confirmed.

  • planetpib

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 12:10 pm PT

    A) This game looks amazing.
    B) I want a Crackdown 2.

  • Ra-Devil

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 12:04 pm PT

    Crack-it-Down! Just give me a sequal and I'll be fine. I don't want an MMO. If I did, I'd play WoW. I mean, that's the only one you'd find people playing anyway.

  • VolcanicDemon

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 12:03 pm PT

    dave jones was one of the guys who came up with the idea of gta and made the first game and possibly the second but he had nothing to do with gta3 onwards! Crackdown was good but not great. APB is original and brings a different style of mmo, one that may well be worth the subscription fees. If it fails, then we will most definitely see Crackdown 2 (on ps3 as well)

  • SpruceCaboose

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 11:30 am PT

    I agree with ghost867 completely on this.
    I would love Crackdown 2.

  • ForceFlow301

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 11:23 am PT

    Mmmm Crackdown 2, now that sounds nice, MMO's aren't good at all

  • lumeiwan

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 11:20 am PT

    I nearly forgot about this game until gamespot refreshes my mind.

  • ghost867

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 11:06 am PT

    *Waits for Crackdown 2*

    I'm waiting..... couldn't care less about an MMO, I don't like subscribing to a game which I've already bought. I want the new and improved Crackdown...

  • Makaatsu

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 10:35 am PT

    Crackdown was quality (although i still have nightmares about those damn orbs!) so i look forward to this very much, didn't know it was made by the guy who made GTA, learn something every day!

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