Korean gaming powerhouse NCSoft has taken a significant step in the industry by investing in the innovative first-person studio, Emptyvessel. According to reports from VentureBeat, this strategic equity investment marks the beginning of a promising long-term partnership, facilitated through NCSoft’s North American subsidiary, NC West. While the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, the implications for both companies are noteworthy.
Collaboration on Cutting-Edge Projects
Emptyvessel is currently developing Defect, a first-person cyberpunk squad-based shooter that aims to redefine the genre. The studio is backed by a talented team with impressive credentials, having contributed to iconic titles such as Doom, Quake, Borderlands, and The Last of Us. Emanuel Palalic, the game director at Emptyvessel, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We started working on Defect with a simple belief, that great games come from focused, passionate teams who are empowered to take creative risks.”
Palalic further emphasized the alignment between Emptyvessel’s vision and NCSoft’s support: “From the start, they’ve understood our goal, not just to build a game, but to build a better environment for the developers behind it. NCSoft’s support and expertise will help us take Defect and Empty Vessel to the next level.”
NCSoft’s Vision for the Future
NCSoft co-CEO Byung-moo Park shared his perspective on the collaboration, highlighting Emptyvessel’s credentials: “Emptyvessel is a triple-A development studio established by game art and sound experts with successful experience and fandom in the global major genre of shooting games.” He reiterated the company’s commitment to investing in new global intellectual properties and developing a robust pipeline tailored to specific genres.
This partnership not only signifies NCSoft’s dedication to expanding its portfolio but also reflects a broader trend in the gaming industry where collaboration and strategic investments are key to fostering innovation and creativity.