Nexon America
Nexon America business and news from across the web.- The First Berserker: Khazan Development Team 'Reassigned' Amid Reports of Sales Falling 'Short of Market Expectations'Nexon has reportedly reassigned a significant portion of the development team for The First Berserker: Khazan, an action RPG within the Dungeon Fighter Online universe. This decision comes a year after the game's release, with reports suggesting sales have fallen short of market expectations.
State of Play Potentially Happening on April 16, Possibly “Third-Party Focused” – RumorInsider NateTheHate suggests a State of Play event may occur on April 16th, potentially focusing on third-party titles rather than first-party games like Marvel's Wolverine. While his track record is strong, this information is unconfirmed. The article also briefly mentions other unrelated game news.
Despite good reviews, The First Berserker Khazan development team reportedly dissolved over disappointing sales just…The development team behind the action RPG The First Berserker: Khazan has reportedly been dissolved and its members reassigned by parent company Nexon due to disappointing sales. Despite receiving good reviews at launch, the game failed to meet sales targets, with complications in its China release also cited as a factor. Nexon stated that personnel have been moved to other projects, though the future of The First Berserker: Khazan itself remains uncertain.
Blue Archive Adds Winter Sky’s Renaissance Update With New Story and Student RecruitmentsBlue Archive has launched its "Winter Sky’s Renaissance: Thesis on Cultural Exchange" update, introducing new story content, student recruitments, and gameplay additions. The update features Takane and Yakumo from Red Winter Federal Academy, with a pick-up recruitment event available until April 20. The game is available for free on PC via Steam, iOS, and Android.
The First Berserker: Khazan Publisher Reassigns Most of Its Team After Underwhelming SalesFollowing underwhelming sales for The First Berserker: Khazan, its developer Neople has reassigned approximately 100 developers to other projects within parent company Nexon. While the "large-scale Khazan project" is considered in its final stages with a smaller team to handle remaining tasks, the decision stems from the game not meeting financial expectations. This likely means no future DLC or ports to platforms like the Nintendo Switch.
"Video games are cooked": Publisher head says "it doesn't matter" how many of us hate gen AI, Pandora's box has opened and "it's gonna get used now"Mike Rose, founder of No More Robots, believes generative AI's integration into game development is irreversible, likening it to Pandora's box. He notes the increasing prevalence of AI-generated assets in game demos and the competitive pressure it creates for publishers. Despite player backlash, Rose asserts that the ease of AI tools will lead to their widespread adoption, fundamentally changing how games are made.
Blizzard explains visual updates to Overwatch's AnranOverwatch game director Aaron Keller addressed community and voice actor feedback regarding the visual design of the new character Anran. Following backlash over her initial appearance, Blizzard is implementing updates to make her visuals more aligned with her described personality as a confident and fierce leader, moving away from a perceived 'baby face' look. The changes, set to go live on April 14, focus on her eyes, eyebrows, mouth, and posture.
Report: Take-Two lays off the head of AI and multiple team membersTake-Two Interactive has reportedly laid off the head of its AI division and multiple team members. In separate news, Nexon has partnered with Blizzard Entertainment to publish Overwatch in South Korea, with services tailored for the region.- Nexon agrees to publish Overwatch in KoreaNexon has agreed to publish Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch in Korea. The companies are collaborating to provide services specifically tailored for the Korean market, with PC being the primary platform.
Nexon agrees to publish Overwatch in KoreaNexon has agreed to publish Overwatch in Korea, taking over from Blizzard Entertainment. The article also discusses Sony's past strategies regarding remasters and remakes, questioning their current business decisions and leadership changes.- The First Descendant outlines a ‘completing the game’ roadmap with a wide-ranging overhaulNexon developers have outlined a 'completing the game' roadmap for their looter shooter, The First Descendant, acknowledging player frustrations with content and endgame balance. The plan includes an overhaul of core game fundamentals, improvements to the main story and early missions, and new content for Season 4 such as Onslaught Mode and a mega dungeon.
Saudi Investment Firm Has Increased Its Stake In CapcomSaudi investment firm Electronic Gaming Development Company (EGDC) has increased its stake in Capcom to 6.04%, making it the fourth-largest shareholder. This investment, valued at approximately $617 million, follows EGDC's previous acquisition of a 5.03% stake. Capcom also announced plans to reveal more games before the end of fiscal year 2027, focusing on both new and established franchises.- South Korean amusement park opens up a MapleStory-themed landNexon has opened a MapleStory-themed land called Maple Island at Lotte World Adventure in Seoul, South Korea. The attraction features four rides, themed merchandise, food, and beverages, aiming to provide experiences beyond the online MMORPG. A "MapleStory in Lotte World" festival is also being held with parades and special decorations.
- MMO Week in Review: Queen DevonaThis week's MMO news roundup covers updates for Guild Wars Reforged, layoffs at MechWarrior studio Piranha Games, and a potential acquisition of Epic Games by Disney. The article also touches on political discussions surrounding game shutdowns in Europe and new early access dates for Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era.
ARC Raiders Team Wants “Better Rope Physics” to Trip ARCs Like Star Wars’ AT-ATsEmbark Studios is exploring advanced physics for ARC Raiders, with lead researcher Martin Singh-Blom citing Star Wars' Hoth scene as inspiration for potential rope physics. The studio aims to balance pushing technological boundaries with practical game design needs, while also focusing on AI integration and refining crafting systems.
Warframe community director says 'nothing in our games will be AI-generated, ever'Digital Extremes community director Megan Everett stated that no AI-generated content will ever be used in Warframe or Soulframe, emphasizing a commitment to human-made assets. While some publishers like Nexon have praised AI for cost savings, Everett expressed strong personal opposition to the technology due to its potential to deceive and frustrate.
"Completing the Game" is the radical plan for The First Descendant after 2 years, and the latest roadmap cooked up by Nexon just days after it called the game a flopNexon is implementing a "Completing the Game" roadmap for its looter shooter, The First Descendant, to address player frustrations with content, endgame balance, and the learning curve. The plan includes an overhaul of core gameplay systems, farming loops, and the endgame, with the first phase expected in the summer Season 4 update.- Nexon is taking on Overwatch publishing duties in Korea ‘within the year’Nexon and Blizzard Entertainment have partnered to publish Overwatch on PC in Korea, with operations beginning later this year. Nexon will handle live service and business operations tailored to the Korean market, while Blizzard will continue overall game development. This partnership follows a previous deal where Nexon began publishing for the StarCraft IP in Korea.
- The First Descendant Gets Overhaul Roadmap Following Nexon’s “No Staying Power” AssessmentNexon has acknowledged that The First Descendant failed to maintain player retention, citing deeper design issues rather than superficial problems. The development team has outlined a three-phase "Completing the Game" roadmap to address core gameplay systems, improve the main story and early progression, and add new content. This overhaul follows mixed player reception since the game's launch in June 2024 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
- Blizzard continues to hire for what appears to be its StarCraft open-world shooter with NexonBlizzard Entertainment and Nexon are continuing development on a StarCraft open-world shooter, with Blizzard actively hiring for a Lead Designer, Innovation role for the Unreal Engine title. This collaboration was confirmed earlier this year, suggesting a potential revival for the StarCraft franchise beyond its traditional real-time strategy roots.