[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Sangjin] NCSOFT has announced plans to split its game and artificial intelligence (AI) research and development (R&D) departments into four unlisted subsidiaries.

On the 21st, NCSOFT held an extraordinary board meeting and disclosed that it will establish four new subsidiaries: NCSOFT AI, Studio X, Studio Y, and Studio Z (tentative names) through a physical split.

The first step involves splitting NCSOFT's AI R&D organization, the NC Research Division, to create NCSOFT AI, a company specializing in AI technology. Since the research division has been responsible for AI R&D, including the large language model (LLM) VARCO, it plans to continue enhancing AI technology and actively incorporate AI into game development.

Lee Yeon-soo, head of the NC Research Division, has been appointed as the representative of the newly established NCSOFT AI.

The game development studios will be divided into three. New independent game development studios will be formed around three intellectual properties (IPs): Throne and Liberty (TL), the shooting game LLL, and the strategy game TACTAN. The TL division will be launched as Studio X, the LLL division as Studio Y, and the TACTAN division as Studio Z.

Choi Moon-young, CBO, will transition to head Studio X, while Baek Jae-hyun, who has been overseeing LLL, and Seo Min-seok, in charge of TACTAN development, will be appointed as representatives of Studio Y and Studio Z, respectively.

Along with the establishment of the new companies, organizational restructuring will occur. The company plans to implement a strategy of selective focus to efficiently utilize resources, which may involve terminating or downsizing certain development projects and support functions. Following this, personnel reallocation and a voluntary resignation program will also be carried out.

NCSOFT will hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders on the 28th of next month to finalize the company split and the establishment of the new entities. The split date for each new company is set for February 1, 2025.

 

 

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