K-Content News

NCSoft’s Strategic Pivot: Building a Global Casual Games Powerhouse

This article is notable as it signals NCSoft’s decisive shift from core-heavy IPs to scalable,

datadriven casual games, offering global buyers insight into how a major Korean publisher is

restructuring itself for Western casual markets.

♦  Major M&A Move into Casual Gaming

      • NCSoft acquired 67% stake in Indigo Group (Lihuh’s parent) for KRW 153.4 billion, scheduled for

          January 30, 2026

      • Lihuhu released 100+ casual titles since 2017 (Match Triple 3D, Tile Triple 3D, Woodber), generating

          80%+ revenue from North America and Europe

♦  Financially Proven Casual Studio Portfolio

      • Lihuhu projects KRW 120B revenue and KRW 30B operating profit this year, with KRW 20B cash reserves

          and strong profitability

      • Springcomes, a Korean merge-game specialist, produces 4-5 titles annually with KRW 28B revenue this

          year (2× YoY growth)

♦  Cluster Strategy for Scalable Casual IP

     • NCSoft established Mobile Casual Center in August, recruiting Anil Cheman (Triple Dot, Outfit7) as head

         and Anthony Pascal (Miniclip) for UA/data

     • The cluster integrates development, publishing, UA, live ops, data, and AI to build a mobile casual

        ecosystem with platform optimization

♦  Toward a Global Casual Publishing Platform

      • Co-CEO Park Byung-moo stated NCSoft is negotiating acquisition of a large European casual studio and

         expanding into casual publishing

     • Next year, NCSoft will unveil comprehensive global casual game strategy, leveraging AI and platform

        tech for UA, creative iteration, and live ops at scale

Source

Seoul Economic Daily (2025.12.22)

https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/2H1TWL1RDQ