**TL/LLL/Tactan Development Team and AI Organization Spin-off… “Taking Responsibility”**
(Seongnam=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ju-hwan = NCSoft has confirmed the establishment of four new subsidiaries, including an independent development studio.
On the 28th, NCSoft held an extraordinary shareholder meeting at its Pangyo R&D Center building and passed this agenda.
The newly established entities include game development studios: FirstSpark Games, BigFire Games, and Ludius Games, and an AI-specialized company, NC AI. These will operate as four non-listed corporations, launching on February 1 next year.
The development team behind the MMORPG “Throne and Liberty (TL),” which was launched domestically last December and globally in October, will be spun off into FirstSpark Games.
FirstSpark Games will be led by Choi Moon-young, who oversaw TL development as NCSoft’s Chief Business Officer (CBO).
Baek Jae-hyun will head BigFire Games, responsible for the next shooting game “LLL,” while Seo Min-seok will lead Ludius Games, handling the strategy game TACTAN development. NC AI will become independent from its AI research and development organization, with Lee Yeon-su as its head.
**Photo Description**: The newly appointed heads of NCSoft’s subsidiaries, clockwise from top left: Choi Moon-young (FirstSpark Games), Baek Jae-hyun (BigFire Games), Seo Min-seok (Ludius Games), and Lee Yeon-su (NC AI) [Provided by NCSoft. Reproduction and DB Prohibited].
At the shareholders meeting, Park Byung-moo, NCSoft’s Co-CEO, began with an apology for holding an extraordinary meeting for the second time this year.
Co-CEO Park explained, “We decided on the spin-offs to enhance game development efficiency and boost success potential through selection and focus. Too many resources were concentrated at the headquarters, hampering creativity and urgency. To foster a spirit of challenge, we decided to establish independent studios.”
Furthermore, Park added, “In line with global trends, we plan to develop and release new intellectual properties (IP) through independent studios.”
After the shareholder meeting, Park, when asked about further spin-offs, mentioned, “There won’t be any spin-offs like this that go through shareholder resolutions.”
However, regarding future new IPs, he explained, “We informed seed organizations at their early development stages about this principle. In cases of large-scale recruitment, we intend to proceed by forming new studio organizations, continuing the development trend through subsidiaries rather than the headquarters.”
**Photo Description**: “Who is this spin-off for?”
Seongnam (Yonhap) – On the 28th, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Chemical, Fiber and Food Industry Union and NCSoft Branch protested against the management’s spin-off plans at the Pangyo R&D Center building, where the extraordinary shareholder meeting was held.
NCSoft’s labor union demanded the withdrawal of the spin-off plans, accusing the management, including co-CEO Park, of shifting responsibility onto employees.
In response, Park stated, “We feel deeply responsible. Since early last year, a significant number of executives have left, and this will also be the case during year-end restructuring. Executives will feel substantial responsibility next year as well.”
Additionally, addressing the union’s opposition to the spin-offs, he clarified, “We’re not abandoning those organizations by spinning them off. The intention is for them to develop challengingly with less influence from the headquarters, and we will provide continuous support both financially and technically.”