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Photo = NCsoft |
[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Sangjin] NCSoft has confirmed the creation of four new subsidiaries as part of its transition to an "independent studio system." This decision was finalized at an extraordinary shareholder meeting held at its R&D center in Pangyo on November 28. The newly established companies are: FirstSpark Games, BigFire Games, Rudius Games, and NC AI. These subsidiaries will operate as private companies, with plans to launch by February 1, 2024.
Each subsidiary will focus on specific game projects:
- FirstSpark Games will manage the development of Throne and Liberty (TL), with the TL Camp's Moon-young Choi serving as CEO.
- BigFire Games will work on the shooting game LLL, led by Jae-hyun Bae.
- Rudius Games will oversee Tactan, with Min-seok Seo heading the company.
NC AI will focus on AI-driven technologies.
However, the restructuring plan has faced strong opposition from NCSoft's labor union, "Universe Conquer". The union organized a protest at the Pangyo R&D center, demanding the withdrawal of the spin-off plan. The union argues that the spin-offs shift the responsibility for NCSoft's management failures onto employees, while criticizing the leadership for not fully understanding the gaming industry despite being successful in private equity.
In response, NCSoft’s CEO, Park, defended the spin-off strategy during a meeting with reporters. He explained that the decision to grant subsidiaries significant autonomy, while offering feedback based on milestones, is a common business practice aimed at fostering innovation and growth.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim SangJin(letyou@alphabiz.co.kr)
