Lineage helps boost NCSoft sales

Korean MMO specialist NCSoft has reveal Q1 sales of KRW 84.7 billion (EUR 67.8m), a nine per cent boost, and profits of KRW 14.1 billion (EUR 11.2m), due to the strong sales and subscriptions of Lineage and Lineage II.

"Our first quarter sales and operating income rose 9 per cent and 96 per cent respectively," offered CFO Lee Jae-ho.

"Furthermore, we expect to attain sustainable growth in the second half after releasing a string of new game titles starting with the much anticipated closed beta testing on Richard Garriot's Tabula Rasa on May 2."

Both sales and profits were down from Q4 2006, with sales down six per cent and profits dropping 24 per cent.

The original Lineage made up 38 per cent of sales, while Lineage II managed 41 per cent. Guild Wars accounted for 14 per cent and City of Heroes/Villains accounted for 7 per cent.

As well as the anticipated release of Richard Garriot's Tabula Rasa, other titles due from NCSoft this year include Guild Wars: Eye of the North and Aion.