"Taekjin Hyung's" Pride at Stake with "TL"... Can It Surpass the "Lineage" Wall?

MMORPG New Release TL Officially Launched Today
Overseas Users Complain About P2W Payment Structure
Overseas Sales Account for 30%... Stock Price Also Expected

"Excited, but not particularly hopeful." (A netizen from the overseas community ‘Reddit’)

This is the reaction of overseas users to NCSoft’s new title, ‘Throne and Liberty (TL)’. While they give high marks for the game’s technical quality, they remain relentlessly critical of the P2W (Pay to Win) monetization structure applied in the ‘Lineage’ series. As CEO Kim Taek-jin said, “TL is different from Lineage,” the degree of differentiation is expected to determine its success or failure.

TL, personally directed by CEO Kim Taek-jin, will meet users starting at 8 p.m. on the 7th in Korea. It runs on PC and console platforms. NCSoft began pre-downloads three days before the official launch. More than 200,000 characters have already been pre-created. On the online homepage, posts recruiting guild members continue to appear. Questions about the computer specifications needed to enjoy the game are also noticeable.

TL is NCSoft’s first MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) released in 11 years since ‘Blade & Soul’ in 2012. The game, initially called ‘Project TL’ in early 2019, took about four and a half years to develop. Including projects that were canceled midway, the preparation period exceeds 10 years. Industry estimates put the development cost at around 100 billion KRW. Developer salaries typically exceed 100 million KRW, and intellectual property (IP) costs are rising. More than 200 developers are still refining the game. CEO Kim himself has appeared in preview videos and attended offline events, acting as a promotional ambassador.

TL has overcome several near-death crises. The biggest was the harsh criticism during the domestic beta test in May. The stock price hit a 52-week low, reflecting the brutal market reaction. Producer An Jong-ok, leading TL’s development, explained in a ‘Producer’s Letter’ that the problems revealed in the beta test were “static combat and boring progression,” clarifying the reasons for excluding auto-hunting and auto-movement. The auto-hunting feature, which allows experience gain without direct control, is favored by the core customer base of 40-50-year-old ‘Linjeossi’ (middle-aged Lineage players). Instead, the growth speed was increased. Also, general attacks can now be performed while moving, adding dynamic fun to combat.

TL is a forward-driving force for global market entry. CEO Kim plans to build a fandom domestically first, then introduce the game overseas in partnership with Amazon. The choice of console platforms is also due to their popularity among North American users. In December last year, Kim Taek-jin said, “We will realize values and emotions that cannot be felt on mobile.” The P2W business model, which overseas users strongly reject, was abandoned, and loot box-style items were boldly removed. This distinctive business model has also been criticized by Korean male consumers in their 20s and 30s. The currently ended TL pre-purchase package was priced around 49,900 KRW. The ‘Growth Pass’ costs 29,900 KRW, and the ‘Battle Pass’ 19,900 KRW, which is relatively cheaper than Lineage.

If the game settles in the market, the next goal is to enhance overseas competitiveness. NCSoft’s overseas sales account for only 30%, while competitor Krafton’s is 94%. An industry insider said, “Looking at the struggling game industry amid the economic downturn, expressions differ depending on overseas sales,” adding, “Domestic sales alone are no longer meaningful; stable profits must come from overseas.” NCSoft’s stock price closed at 265,000 KRW on the 6th, continuing a downward trend since 2021.

Meanwhile, NCSoft plans to release ‘Battlecrush’, ‘Project BSS’, and ‘Project G’ next year. Release dates are undecided, but ‘Odin’, ‘Eversoul’, and ‘ArcheAge War’ are also in preparation.