As February kicked off, a flurry of domestic game publishers unveiled their 2025 financial results, but NCSoft has found itself under a particularly harsh spotlight. Their mobile division has failed to hold the line, witnessing a rather steep descent. The new Aion 2 made a valiant effort, but it simply wasn't enough to drag the overall performance out of the gutter. It was the moment the metrics confirmed that even their most anticipated title couldn't plug the gaping holes in their balance sheet.

To make matters worse, new cracks are appearing elsewhere. Even when they were credited with at least 'getting the monetization right', Lineage Classic faced an 'infinite scroll generation incident' which laid bare their raw, amateurish approach to live operations. Only a few days later, upon the official launch, they backtracked on their promise that "there would be no monetization other than a monthly subscription" by introducing loot boxes, further eroding any remaining trust. Gamers have been quick to lash out, with comments like "I thought they were good at monetization, but I was wrong" and "Are we getting fooled again?" filling the forums.

Some critics argue this series of blunders isn't just a simple case of falling revenue; it's a stark indicator that the overall content polish and service quality at NCSoft are in a state of decay. Even for Aion 2, which was touted for its player-friendly approach and focus on communication, there is a lingering, nervous anxiety that it might just turn into another cash-grab before we know it. In this climate, if even Aion 2 falters, then they are truly in for a world of hurt.

Twenty years ago, NCSoft was the titan of the domestic online gaming scene, a company that commanded respect for its ability to actually build solid games. Today, what remains of NCSoft is nothing but the ghosts of former glory, a collection of butchered IPs, broken trust, and a reputation for quality that is now rightfully under fire. Whether they can patch these holes—or if it's already too late—remains anyone's guess.