NCSOFT, known for Throne and Liberty and Lineage, has announced significant internal changes, including staff reductions.
Throne and Liberty
The wave of layoffs will affect various departments, however, the exact number of employees who may lose their jobs is unknown. The restructuring process will also include "reallocating personnel within the company and implementing a voluntary retirement program."
As part of the transformation, NCSOFT has also decided to establish four new subsidiaries. One of the new studios will focus on supporting Throne and Liberty, while the other two will handle projects Project LLL and TACTAN. The fourth company (tentatively called NC AI) will be a separate division dedicated to AI technology development and business expansion.
In addition, the changes will impact other company projects—some budgets may be reduced, while others will be discontinued entirely. Notably, according to GameMeca, the development of Project M and Battle Crush has already been canceled.
According to company leadership, the reason for the restructuring is the deterioration of financial results: NCSOFT's quarterly sales dropped by 16% compared to the previous year. Because of this, the company "risks facing a chronic budget deficit."