I just got  a letter in my email from Codemasters saying they are closing the North american and UK servers:

Dear Your Name here,

It is with much sadness that today we announce our intention to close the European and North American ArchLord game servers operated by Codemasters Online.

Our licence for ArchLord is due to expire shortly and unfortunately, after several weeks of negotiations with NHN, the Korean developers of the title, we have not been able to reach an agreement to renew the contract, therefore the service will be transitioning across to Webzen.

This means that Codemasters will no longer have the right to operate the service in the Western territories it currently provides service in and therefore we are obliged to shut down all associated game services before the licence expires.

The last full day of service will be 1st October, 2009. All ArchLord world servers will shut down on the morning of Friday 2nd October, UK time. Further details of how the transition of the service will be handled, will be provided closer to the time of the transition.

The purchase of credits is now no longer available to ensure all players have the opportunity to spend their remaining Chantra credits in game and use their remaining Chantra items. Likewise, the creation of new ArchLord game accounts/subscriptions is now disabled. For further information, please see our ArchLord Service Transition FAQ in the forums..

ArchLord was Codemasters Online's first free to play MMO service and we have been very proud of its development and success during its three years of existence. Over that time the service has gone from strength to strength and has one of the most passionate communities we've ever seen.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported ArchLord and those players that not only played it, but also raised an army and ruled the world in Chantra.
Thanks,
The Codemasters Online Team.

Thats about time.... and i sure hope Codemaster just quit of distributing MMO's. They made a crap job on Europe with LoTRO, thats the main reason why I quit.

Just another example, while DDO will be relaunched in america F2P, the european version, by Codemasters ofc, will carry on P2P, LOL, like if...

 ArchLord Transition FAQ

Who will be running the next Western Archlord service?
Webzen will be hosting the next Western Archlord service.

What is the website address of the Webzen Western Archlord service?
archlord.webzen.com

When can we log into the Webzen Western Archlord service?
Players will be able to log into the Webzen Western Archlord service from the 3rd October 2009. Please visit archlord.webzen.com for further information.

What information is being passed from Codemasters Online to Webzen?
Codemasters online will transfer to Webzen all game data such as character data and game server data along with usernames and transition keys. Codemasters online will not be transferring personal identifiers or any Codemasters online account information to Webzen.

What will happen to our characters?
All character data is being passed to Webzen once the Codemasters’ service is closed on 2nd October 2009. We have no further information regarding the use of this character data in Webzen service, please visit archlord.webzen.com for further information.

If our characters are transferring to another service, will it just be the character or all items and equipment as well?
Webzen will make an announcement regarding character data on their website, please visit archlord.webzen.com

How do I gain access to the Webzen Western Archlord service?
Your transition key will be visible on your Codemasters online account page, please log in using the following link to retrieve it https://cogaccounts.codemasters.com/

For full details of how you use your transition key to gain access the the Webzen Western Archlord service please visit archlord.webzen.com

Are all servers transferring separately, i.e. Brumhart to a new Brumhart, Gaiahon to a new Gaiahon, etc?
Please visit archlord.webzen.com for more information

Will Cyripus maintain its hardcore rule set?
Please visit archlord.webzen.com for more information

Will everything on the auction house transfer onto the new auction house or need to be reapplied?
Please visit archlord.webzen.com for more information

Will accounts that are banned on Codemaster’s service be unbanned on the new service?
Codemasters will not be supplying transition game keys (used to login to the new service) to banned players.

What happens to unspent credits after the service closes?
Unfortunately Webzen will not be transferring the credit balances of current players into their Western Service. Credits should be spent before the Codemasters’ service closes on 2nd October 2009. As a thank you from Codemasters we have discounted all the items in the shop by 50% for the remainder of the Codemasters Western Archlord service to offer you more value for your credits in the last month of our service.

What happens to unused Chantra items after the service closes?
Please visit archlord.webzen.com for more information

What version will the new service be running?
Please visit archlord.webzen.com for more information

If the new service is using a later version will we be granted a free skill re-spec?
Please visit archlord.webzen.com for more information

Will the game continue to be provided in English, French and German?
Please visit archlord.webzen.com for more information
__________________
Dnote

Well at least they are transfering characters over. Unlike what happened with RF Online where you lost everything. But I am not totally surprised that they didn't renew their contract for Archlord.

Originally posted by lokitrixter

Well at least they are transfering characters over. Unlike what happened with RF Online where you lost everything. But I am not totally surprised that they didn't renew their contract for Archlord.

lol Better check again. They are not transfering anything over. Might as well quit. Where did you read that they are transfering characters over.

This is the most annoying game I EVER SEEN. They simply don't accept your credit card if you don't live EXACTLY in USA!

It's like "hey our game is too good for your dirty money, get outta here".

It's always sad when a MMO dies, but in this particular case I'm a bit glad. Still I'm sorry for the fools who spent thousands of hours breaking their back grinding in this atrocious game and now lost everything. My condolences.

Greetings!

About the Webzen Archlord service,
we would like to announce the two important news to you all Webzen.com players.

? The End of Codemasters’ Archlord service and the Database transition process

The current Codemasters service will end as of October 2nd, 2009 (GST time) .

For the continuing service to the current Codematers’ Archlord players,
Codemasters, NHNGames and Webzen are working very closely for the seamless transition of the Codemasters’ Archlord players Database information to Webzen’s Archlord service.

With Codemasters and NHNGames, Webzen will do its best to minimize any inconvenience of the Codemasters’ Archlord players in continuing and enjoying the Archlord service in Webzen.com, keeping in mind that the transition will be in the best interest of the Codemasters’ Archlord players
 

And if you were to have read the post above mine you would've seen it. Plus if you have a CodeMasters account go log in and see you have a transition key for Archlord

 I am more upset at myself for tracking down the retail box for the chantra and the item and credit may not cross over.

whats up with codemasters? remember when archlord first launched? retail box and monthly payment? back box said features becoming archlord and siege.... but really when buy, no freaking such feature exist! untill few months of update. bs.

and now i heard codemasters is having new expansion of the new moon elf knight.... now it gonna shut down first before moon elf knight arrive. bs.

Originally posted by coldfreedom

whats up with codemasters? remember when archlord first launched? retail box and monthly payment? back box said features becoming archlord and siege.... but really when buy, no freaking such feature exist! untill few months of update. bs.

 

and now i heard codemasters is having new expansion of the new moon elf knight.... now it gonna shut down first before moon elf knight arrive. bs.

Same happend with RFO with codemasters, so much promised but they delivered very little, tbh i think CMO needed to pull there finger out back when RFO went down the pan. I cant see anyone doing any deals with CMO in the future as they have such a poor reputation with players and developers now.

In a way im glad it happened, Im now glad the game will be in the hands of a capable publisher.

no wonder the devs did nothing to fix those goldspammers, bc of that lot of peopple left the game, its a good game but if they dont fix the problem look what happend to it