Sony announces a partnership with Guild Wars publisher NCSoft
Sony has announced a strategic partnership with South Korean developer and publisher NCSoft, best known for the Guild Wars and Lineage MMOs.
The details:
The deal, announced jointly by PlayStation boss Jim Ryan and NCSoft CEO Taekjin Kim (via GamesIndustry.biz), will see the two companies "collaborate in various global business fields, including mobile." "Partnering with NCsoft advances our strategy to expand beyond console and broaden PlayStation’s reach to a wider audience,” said Ryan. "Like SIE, NCsoft shares a similar vision in creating high-quality, impactful entertainment experiences for players everywhere, and together, we're excited to collaborate to push the boundaries of gaming further."
Kim stated that the agreement would involve making use of "both companies' core competencies, technological capabilities, and expertise" to "deliver a new and enjoyable experience to our audience across and beyond genres and regions," suggesting that the companies may be working on a multiplayer release together due to NCSoft's strong track record in the genre.
Last year, it was claimed that PlayStation had struck a deal with NCSoft to work on an MMORPG set in the Horizon universe to continue its push into the online-focused live service space. It's unclear whether the rumored project is related to the confirmed multiplayer Horizon game, or if it's part of Sony's revised plan to release six major live service releases by 2026.
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