NCSoft's Operating Profit Soars 1,053% as Lineage Classic Resurrects the PC Franchise

NCSoft reported second-quarter operating profit up 1,053 percent year on year to 173.9 billion won on revenue of 770.5 billion won, up 101 percent, powered by the PC hit Lineage Classic and a fast-growing mobile casual business — results that push the company well past its 2.5 trillion won annual guidance and pull its 5 trillion won revenue goal years forward.

Lineage Classic Carries the Quarter

PC game revenue hit 343.8 billion won, a record quarterly high for the second consecutive quarter, led by Lineage Classic — launched in March — which generated 185.5 billion won in the quarter and 269.1 billion won cumulatively over its first 140 days through end-June. Lineage Remastered grew 18 percent quarter over quarter, while mobile revenue of 185.3 billion won was led by a 4 percent uptick in Lineage M. The mobile casual segment contributed 169.7 billion won — 22 percent of total revenue — with the global platform JustPlay consolidated for the first time, and CFO Hong Won-joon said the business "has truly established itself as a new core business."

Overseas sales accounted for 52 percent of revenue, surpassing domestic sales for the first time (Korea 48 percent, Asia 25 percent, North America and Europe 27 percent), the fourth consecutive quarter of overseas growth. Net profit returned to the black at 131.2 billion won, with an operating margin of 23 percent.

10 Titles in the Pipeline

The company plans to launch around 10 new titles globally between the second half of 2026 and next year, including Aion 2 Global next month and Horizon Steel Frontier, Cinder City and Guild Wars 3 in 2027, with several to be unveiled at Gamescom 2026, which opens August 26 in Cologne. NCSoft disclosed it will lend 120.7 billion won to North American subsidiary ArenaNet — the Guild Wars 3 developer — to support development through launch, and CEO Park hinted the 5 trillion won annual revenue target, previously set for 2030, could be achieved earlier, while noting the November release of Grand Theft Auto VI is factoring into launch scheduling.