-
NCsoft Q4 2019 Financial Results: Mixed Bag
NCsoft’s fourth-quarter 2019 financial results present a mixed picture for the publisher. Revenue rose 34% compared to both the previous quarter and the same period in 2018, but full-year 2019 revenue slipped approximately 1% versus 2018, suggesting that strength in Q4 could not entirely compensate for weaker performance earlier in the year. The company’s mobile division was the standout performer, posting a 59% revenue increase year-over-year in Q4, driven largely by the continuing success of the Lineage franchise. Lineage I and Lineage II each recorded year-over-year revenue gains of 24% and 25% respectively, reinforcing the staying power of these IPs in Asian markets.
Conversely, NCsoft’s three primary western-MMO titles all suffered significant revenue contractions during the quarter. Aion dropped 36% year-over-year, Blade & Soul fell 28%, and Guild Wars 2 declined approximately 25% compared to the same period in 2018. Guild Wars 2 had maintained relatively stable revenue throughout 2019, but its fourth quarter represented the worst quarterly performance in the game’s history, even as a new season of content launched in the fall. These declines are particularly notable given that the western MMO segment has been a key strategic focus for NCsoft.
#game