South Korea’s gaming giant NCSOFT generated 756 million dollars in revenue last year, making it one of the most successful gaming companies in Asia. And now, after nearly two decades of releasing MMO’s, the company has decided to expand into new platforms with the hope of building its presence in the Western market.
One of the major markets NCSOFT will be taping into is the Mobile gaming industry. “Over the last several months, we’ve begun to lay the groundwork to increase NCSOFT West’s investment and prominence in the West,” said Dr. Songyee Yoon, CEO of NCSOFT West. “Now, with our full executive team in place, new mobile studio open in San Mateo and a number of other key initiatives underway, we have a strategy that will drive our acceleration and position the company as a key leader in the Western games industry.”
Over the last two months, NCSoft has hired 5o new employees, with many of them filling the seats of the Mobile studio in San Mateo. According to senior vice president John Burns, the mobile studio will be a “heavy focus” of the company in the coming year. The new studio will work to develop high quality, innovative titles that are both new IP and also leverage NCSOFT’s existing game portfolio.
“NCSOFT West is poised for acceleration,” said John Burns. “We are expanding our product pipeline via more products from our Korean HQ, from M&A activity and via a heavy focus on mobile development. We also continue to accelerate by building on the existing great teams and people we have here at NCSOFT West and by adding additional areas of expertise that support our expanding cross-platform initiatives.”
The company is also planning on making changes with some of its existing titles. One if its more recent releases, Wild Star, will be free to play soon. NCSOFT says that it will draw future revenues from an in-game store selling convenience and cosmetic items, as well as through an optional monthly membership that provide various bonuses and enhancements to the game.
NCSOFT will also be bringing one of its more popular games Blade & Soul to the West this winter.
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