Dragon Oath
A martial arts MMORPG based on a Louis Cha novel.
Dragon Oath, released in May 2007, is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game created and published by Changyou.com and Sohu. In China, it is called Tian Long Ba Bu. The game draws its narrative from Louis Cha’s novel *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*. After its Chinese debut, ChangYou.com expanded the game internationally, and by 2012 it had servers operating in Europe, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the United States. The American servers, like those in Europe, were set to close on July 25, 2016.
The gameplay is presented in a 2.5D martial-arts style, blending combat with community-building. It is designed to let players “choose their own destiny” and play however they wish. There are nine playable classes, each rooted in ancient kung-fu traditions.
The game’s setting is heavily influenced by Buddhist cosmology and the concept of the Eight Races of non-human beings. Central to the story are three heroes—Qiao Feng, Duan Yu, and Xuzhu—each playing a distinct role in shaping the world that players first encounter when they enter the Kingdom of Dali.
Dragon Oath won the Most-liked Online Game by Game Players award from ChinaJoy for five consecutive years, from 2007 to 2011. The International Data Corporation also listed it as the third most popular game in China.
In 2011, ChangYou.com announced a new, fully localized version of Dragon Oath designed specifically for the Turkish market, as part of its ongoing efforts to promote the game globally.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- ChangYou.com
- Publisher
- Sohu
- Released
- 2007
- Genre
- MMORPG
- Modes
- Multiplayer online
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Dragon Oath is set in a world heavily based on Buddhist cosmology and the concept of the Eight Races of non-human entities. At the heart of the story are three heroes: Qiao Feng, Duan Yu, and Xuzhu, each with a unique role in shaping the game world. Players first spawn into the Kingdom of Dali. The game features 2.5D martial arts-style fighting and community-building, designed to give players freedom to choose their own destiny. It includes 9 playable classes based on ancient Kung-fu disciplines.
Reader's Guide
Dragon Oath holds significance as a long-running free-to-play MMORPG that achieved both critical and commercial success. It was awarded the Most-liked Online Game by Game Players by ChinaJoy for five consecutive years from 2006 to 2010 and was ranked among the World's Top Five Most Profitable Game Franchises in 2009 by Forbes. The International Data Corporation ranked it the third most popular game in China. Its international expansion included servers in Europe, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the United States, though the American and European servers were scheduled to close on July 25, 2016. In 2011, Changyou.com announced a fully localized version for the Turkish market, reflecting ongoing efforts to spread the brand worldwide. The game's legacy includes its adaptation of a classic wuxia novel and its sustained popularity in China and abroad.
Did You Know?
- Dragon Oath is based on the novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils by Louis Cha.
- Servers in America and Europe were scheduled to close on July 25, 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dragon Oath?
Dragon Oath (known in Chinese as Tian Long Ba Bu) is a free-to-play, 2.5D martial-arts MMORPG that launched in May 2007. It was developed and published by Changyou.com in partnership with Sohu.
Which novel does Dragon Oath adapt?
The game's story and world are drawn directly from Louis Cha's wuxia classic *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, translating the novel's characters and plotlines into an interactive multiplayer setting.
How many playable classes does Dragon Oath offer?
Players can choose from nine distinct martial-arts classes, each with its own combat style, allowing for varied build strategies within the game's 2.5D battle system.
Did Dragon Oath ever get servers outside China?
Yes—by 2012 Changyou had opened international servers in Europe, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the United States, making the title accessible to a global wuxia audience.
What happened to the European and American servers?
Both the European and U.S. server groups were shut down on July 25, 2016, ending official play in those regions while the game continued in its original Chinese market.
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