Shanghai, PRC — February 08, 2010 — Giant Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE: GA) (“Giant” or “the Company”), a leading Chinese online game developer and operator, today announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with Mail.Ru Inc. (“Mail.Ru”), a leading internet portal and online game publisher in Russia, to operate Allods Online, a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role playing game (“MMORPG”) developed by Astrum Nival, LLC (“Astrum Nival”), a studio owned by Mail.Ru, in mainland China.

Allods Online is an award winning, free-to-play MMORPG based on the popular Allods series of PC games known internationally as Rage of Mages. The game is set in a unique universe of epic light fantasy with a captivating storyline and variable playing modes, including player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat. Offering a traditional fantasy MMORPG experience with a new science fiction twist, Allods Online boasts exceptional levels of detail, state of the art graphics, and a rich and diverse cast of characters and environments.

Launched commercially in the Russian-speaking market and registration start for closed beta in Europe and US, Allods Online uniquely blends European art style and game design with the innovative free-to-play business model that is predominant in Asia.  With a development budget of $12 million, it is the best-funded Russian game development project ever. Allods Online was acknowledged as the Best Game 2009 and Best Online Game 2008 by expert juries at the Russian Game Development Conference (KRI), where it also received the Audience Choice Award 2008.  Over the coming months, Giant will localize and tailor the game to Chinese gamers’ preferences in advance of expected commercial launch in late 2010.

Mr. Yuzhu Shi, Giant’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to work with Mail.Ru and the Astrum Nival team once again, and are very excited to bring the award winning Allods Online to the Chinese market.  With its visually stunning graphics, engaging storyline and exciting gameplay, Allods Online has attracted a fervent following in Russia. By leveraging our robust development talent, extensive game operations platform and strong sales and marketing capabilities, we believe Giant will be well positioned to help build Allods Online into a hit game in China.”    

Mr. Dmitry Grishin, Mail.Ru’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “China is an important market as we continue to build our online game business. As a leading online game company in China, Giant is the ideal partner to operate our flagship game Allods Online in this key region.  With a large and growing player base in Russia, and current closed beta testing in Europe and US, we are excited by this opportunity to further expand the Allods Online footprint across China.”