NCsoft’s director of management SungChan Na said yesterday at 2011 earning report conference call that they are finishing <Blade&Soul> up and their business team is currently arrange the schedule for launch. He also said that they have internally decided to launch the game officially within the first half of this year.
So, according to his remark, all of its third closed beta test which is already scheduled, open beta test, and commercial service would be kicked off until June at latest.
NCsoft is planning to pour US$32M into marketing for its two big MMORPGs, <B&S> and <Guild Wars 2>, this year which is a double amount compared to total marketing expense they spent last year.
They are looking forward to making a go of the highly anticipated MMORPG as much as <Aion> — pulling in US$222M an year.
In 2011, the company recorded sales of US$540M(7% down year-on-year), business profit of US$120M, and net profit during the term of US$106M, expecting 25% to 30% increase in annual sales thanks to the games.
