South Korean developer NCSoft hit with layoffs, cancels multiple projects

by Danny Craig  · 
South Korean developer NCSoft hit with layoffs, cancels multiple projects
NCSoft

NCSoft, the South Korean developer behind Guild Wars and the recently released Throne & Liberty, is the latest company to face layoffs and project cancellations after it was said to be "deteriorating" financially.

The details:

  • As reported by Yonhap (via IGN), NCSoft co-CEOs Taek-Jin Kim and Byung-Moo Park stated that the company was "at risk of falling into a chronic deficit company," and apologized to those affected by the layoffs. “We feel a deep sense of responsibility and offer an apology to all employees,” the CEOs said. "As a result of operating in a way that most of the manpower and functions are concentrated at the headquarters, financial performance has continued to deteriorate and we are at risk of becoming a chronically loss-making company.”

  • Game Meca also reports that a company spokesperson confirmed that Project M, a thriller title with highly realistic visuals that was announced in 2022, would be scrapped. Minibus and Toguri Adventure will also be canceled, and the live-service brawler Battle Crush will be shutting down by the end of this year.

  • NCSoft announced earlier this week that it would be divided into four divisions: NCAI, Studio X, Studio Y, and Studio G, with Studio X overseeing its most recent major release, Throne & Liberty. There have been no comments regarding Guild Wars developer ArenaNet, which is currently working on Guild Wars 2 content while also developing the sequel.

  • It is also unclear whether the layoffs will have an impact on the development of the Horizon MMO, which the company announced last year in collaboration with Sony.

More gaming news:

Latest News