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Hellgate to return to West in 2011

HanbitSoft secures rights for US and EU.

The online RPG Hellgate is to return to the US and Europe next year, reports GamesIndustry.biz.

The Korean publisher HanbitSoft, which bought the Asian rights to the game and took over development after its creator Flaghsip Studios closed its doors, has acquired the worldwide rights to the game from original backer Namco Bandai.

"We would like to thank Namco Bandai Games America for allowing us to acquire the Hellgate publishing rights and are thrilled to have eager gamers worldwide return and enjoy the franchise," said HanbitSoft chief Kee-Young Kim.

"Hellgate: Resurrection is heading towards success in Korea such that we decided to push ahead with launching the game overseas next year. We will do our best to get the game to the fans as soon as possible," he added.

Hellgate: London, the original version of the game developed by Blizzard North veterans Bill Roper and Max Scahefer at Flagship, was closed down by Namco Bandai at the end of January last year.

HanbitSoft is in the process of relaunching the game in Asia as Hellgate: Resurrection, with new content, a removed level cap and either free-to-play or subscription options for players. It has also announced an expansion, Hellgate: Tokyo, with a March 2010 release date.