After "Aion 2," "Lineage Classic" Takes the Baton... NCSoft Continues Its IP Success

Original Resolution and Graphics Evoke Nostalgia
"Lineage Classic" Expected to Drive 2 Trillion Won Revenue This Year

NCSoft, which led the success of legacy intellectual property (IP) last year with "Aion 2," will continue the momentum next month with "Lineage Classic."

On the evening of the 27th, NCSoft expanded the capacity of all "Lineage Classic" servers. Although the company had already added 15 servers in three phases for pre-character creation since the 14th, the surge in users prompted further expansion. After installing the game via the NC game platform Purple, users can participate in pre-character creation on a total of 25 servers, including Deporju, Kenrauhel, and Zillian.

"Lineage Classic" is a PC game that recreates the early 2000s version of "Lineage," which NCSoft has been servicing since 1998. Although a teaser site was launched and pre-registration began in 2021, the release was postponed to improve quality. Now, after more than five years, the pre-open free service will begin in Korea and Taiwan on February 7. Starting from February 11, the game will be available for a monthly subscription fee of 29,700 won.

True to its "classic" label, the game preserves the original 4:3 resolution and dot graphics, rather than being a sequel utilizing the IP. Character progression is slow, and the game focuses on clan-based siege warfare. Instead, it emphasizes the experience of manual play, adding enjoyment to the processes of hunting, combat, and equipment acquisition. The subscription model also follows the original payment system.

The response from "Lineage" fans has been enthusiastic. In particular, users in their 40s and 50s who enjoyed "Lineage" from its early days are experiencing nostalgia and actively forming new guilds. NCSoft also expects to attract new users who were previously unable to access the early version of "Lineage" due to age restrictions and are now curious about the game. An NCSoft representative stated, "Since 'Lineage' grew alongside the PC bang (internet cafe) boom, we have prepared many PC bang events," adding, "'Lineage Classic' will maintain the form of the original, but we plan to add new content through future updates so that it can establish itself as a standalone IP."

The industry also expects "Lineage Classic" to play a significant role as NCSoft aims to achieve 2 trillion won in revenue this year. "Aion 2," which positioned itself as a user-friendly game through communication with users and a revamped payment structure, has already proven NCSoft's market competitiveness. Additionally, games branded as "classic" have seen success, as exemplified by "World of Warcraft Classic" (Blizzard) and "Baram: The Classic" (Nexon). Above all, "Lineage" is recognized as the game that laid the foundation for Korean-style massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), becoming the first single game in Korea to surpass 1 trillion won in cumulative sales in 2007.

Meanwhile, NCSoft has set its maximum performance target for this year at 2.5 trillion won. If achieved, the company will rejoin the 2 trillion won club for the first time since 2022. In addition to expanding existing IPs, NCSoft plans to introduce new IPs such as "Limit Zero Breakers," "Cinder City," and "Time Takers," and diversify its portfolio into genres such as casual games.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.