BERLIN, August 26 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the most successful "free 2 play" online games publishers in the United States, Aeria Games, has officially announced that it is opening its European headquarters in Germany. Its European subsidiary, Aeria Games GmbH, will be located in Berlin, the German capital. Since the company's founding in Silicon Valley in 2006, it already has gained over three million players.

Aeria Games chose Berlin for a number of reasons. A key factor in the investment decision was not only the city's stellar telecommunications infrastructure, but also the importance of Germany for the company's business expansion plans. Germany has a strong gaming industry, and Berlin, with its high quality of life, is an attractive city for European or international employees.

Currently Aeria Games Europe GmbH has created six jobs. The company however expects that in the next two years, the workforce will expand to between 20 and 50 in Berlin.

The company announced in its official press release that it will be releasing a new game, Shaiya, onto the German and French markets in either late 2008 or early 2009. One of the major tasks of the new European subsidiary is to support the company's expansion into new markets such as Spain and Italy. This will involve investing in the licensing, publishing, and developing of intellectual property.

Online gaming is a growing industry in Germany, with expected annual growth of over 16% until 2010. Its total revenue hit 390 million EUR in 2007 and is expected to exceed 670 million EUR by 2010. Investors can also use Germany as an entry point to the European online gaming market, one that saw total revenue of 1.1 billion EUR in 2007 and has an average annual growth rate of over 30%.

Both Invest in Germany and Berlin Partner supported Aeria Games in its decision to invest in Germany. "The Aeria Games investment is an example of the strength that Germany has to offer investors in this rapidly growing industry," notes Dr. Robert Hermann, director of the team Information and Communications Technologies at Invest in Germany.

Furthermore, Berlin is the home of many leading companies in gaming and other IT-related industries. "With its affordable prices and international population, Berlin has attracted numerous IT companies in recent years. Without question it is becoming a pillar of the German capital's economy," adds Renz Gurka, Managing Director of Berlin's Economic Development Corporation, Berlin Partner.

Invest in Germany is the inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. It provides investors with comprehensive support from site selection to the implementation of investment decisions.

Contact: Invest in Germany GmbH Headquarters T: +49-30-200-099-0 F: +49-30-200-099-111 office@invest-in-germany.com http://www.invest-in-germany.com Media Contact: Eva Henkel T:+49-30-200-099-173 F:+49-30-200-099-111 henkel@invest-in-germany.com

Contact: Invest in Germany GmbH, Headquarters, T: +49-30-200-099-0, F: +49-30-200-099-111, office@invest-in-germany.com; Media Contact: Eva Henkel, T:+49-30-200-099-173, F:+49-30-200-099-111, henkel@invest-in-germany.com