There is a saying that 'the arm bends inward,' implying that one naturally protects their own when push comes to shove. But what happens when that arm decides to bend the other way? That is the crux of the situation surrounding 'Project G,' the RTS title once championed by NCSoft. The parent company effectively washed its hands of the project, ordering the studio to find an outside publisher instead. When the subsidiary couldn't secure a deal, the development was promptly axed. Ludius Games, the NCSoft subsidiary tasked with the project, is now in tatters. Approximately 75% of the total workforce has already left the building.

Look, nobody is suggesting that a parent company is legally obligated to coddle every project produced by its subsidiaries. However, 'Project G' was a title born within the walls of NCSoft long before Ludius Games was even spun off. Let’s be honest: NCSoft is still a bit of a novice when it comes to the nuances of RTS development and service. By turning their back on a project that could have served as a perfect learning ground for their publishing capabilities—especially when they are busy populating their own Purple platform with new titles—they have made a move that can only be described as baffling.

Furthermore, in this industry, the chances of an external publisher signing a deal for a game that the original parent company deemed unworthy are virtually non-existent. Why would anyone spend their own capital on a product that the creator's own house refused to touch? NCSoft surely knew that the odds of finding an outside publisher were slim to none. In that sense, this move by NCSoft is essentially a case of 'guaranteeing subsidiary autonomy'—or, if we’re reading between the lines, a rather calculated way to pressure the subsidiary into folding the project entirely.

Currently, Ludius Games is attempting to forge ahead with the remaining 25% of its staff. Most of those who left opted for voluntary retirement, walking away with 20 to 30 months' worth of severance pay. While it wasn't a brutal, overnight firing, the chilling directive to 'go find an outside publisher' has effectively gutted the studio. All eyes are now turned toward NCSoft’s other development subsidiaries to see who might be next on the chopping block.