The global version of the upcoming tactical role-playing game GIRLS’ FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM will have two publishers. In some countries, the project will be distributed by the developers themselves (Darkwinter), while in others this burden will be taken on by a third-party company (Haoplay). Since the game is not officially released in Russia, Russian-speaking players have a choice of which server to go to. In this article we will try to understand the situation.
Versions of GIRLS’ FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM
As mentioned above, there are two versions of GIRLS’ FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM, each of which is available in certain countries:
- Darkwinter Serves most countries in Asia (except South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and Kazakhstan), USA, Canada, Caribbean, Africa, Australia, some South American countries, former Yugoslav countries, UK, Finland, most of Central America and several other countries.
- Haoplay operates in South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, most of Europe, Mexico, most of South America and some other regions.
One Reddit user has compiled a detailed map that clearly shows in which countries the two versions are available. You can view it below (clickable image).
Although GIRLS’ FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM is not officially distributed in Russia, you can easily download the client for Android via an Apk file or PC via the official website. Problems may only arise when downloading using the App Store (iOS) and Steam (PC), but they are not too difficult to solve.
Links to download two versions:
Darkwinter
HaoPlay
Why are two global versions needed?
There is no official information about why two separate global versions are needed. It is known that both will contain similar content, and updates will be released simultaneously. So what’s the point of all this? There are three main reasons:
- Audience scale and server capacity. GIRLS’ FRONTLINE 2 has already surpassed 4 million pre-registrations, and managing that volume of players through a single server would be ineffective. The two versions help distribute the load across different data centers.
- Payment systems and regional restrictions. For mobile games, it is important that users can make in-game purchases. Darkwinter and Haoplay operate in different countries, as some regions may have difficulty using certain payment systems. Haoplay may have its own payment system that makes the purchasing process easier for players in Europe and other regions.
- Legal and regional features. Different countries may have different licensing, taxation, or restrictions for online gaming. Having two versions allows developers to comply with local laws.
In any case, whatever the reason, the fact remains that there will be two global versions, so players will have to make a choice.
So which version should you choose?
In fact, there is no clear answer to this question. Judging by the comments on social networks, many are inclined to the version from Darkwinter, but Haoplay should not be written off either. So, let’s try to highlight the main arguments in favor of a particular publisher.
Darkwinter
- This version is published by the developers themselves, so players consider it more reliable. Some fear that the third-party publisher may shut down the servers sooner or later. Surely in this case there will be a transfer of progress, but no one wants to risk it anyway. If you feel the same way, then you should choose Darkwinter.
- This version will be released on December 3, that is, two days earlier than from HaoPlay. While some will enjoy the game and share their impressions, others will have to wait until the publisher launches the servers. This arrangement does not suit everyone, so for them the choice is obvious.
HaoPlay
- This version is available in the vast majority of European countries, so the choice of this server seems quite logical. Darkwinter is also publishing the game in Europe, but only in a few regions. Thus, by choosing this version, you will become part of a large European community.
- HaoPlay will release the game in some countries where Russian is spoken, such as Kazakhstan. This means that in theory it might be easier to find Russian-speaking players. In addition, do not forget that some users use a Kazakh Steam account, so access to the game will be even easier for them.
In general, there is not much difference in choosing a version. The main thing is to agree in advance with your friends about where you will go. We’ll probably update this article when the game comes out and we have more details.
Let us know in the comments if you plan to play GIRLS’ FRONTLINE 2: EXILIUM, and if so, which publisher you will choose.
