**”Journey of Monarch” Disappoints Investors with Stock Drop**
On the release day of NCSoft’s new game, investor disappointment led to a stock plummet of over 14%. According to the Korea Exchange, NCSoft closed at 206,000 won, down 14.35% from the previous day.
NCSoft launched the global service of its idle MMORPG “Journey of Monarch” at midnight, available in 241 countries across regions including Korea, Taiwan, Japan, North America, and Europe on both PC (Purple) and mobile (Android and iOS) platforms.
The game promises a free growth system without real-time competition, high-quality full 3D graphics, and immersive presentation, reinterpreting iconic elements from the Lineage series. It surpassed 8 million pre-registrations.
Amidst intense corporate restructuring to overcome financial difficulties and following its first quarterly loss in 12 years, NCSoft aimed for a turnaround with this new title. However, user criticism poured in immediately after launch, leading to disappointed investors selling off stocks.
NCSoft has been implementing strong restructuring measures, including significant layoffs and voluntary retirement schemes, due to deteriorating performance.