NCSOFT formed a new team from the developers of the failed Blade & Soul 2
South Korean company NCSOFT, known for projects like Lineage and Aion, is not wasting time after announcing the closure of the MMORPG Blade & Soul 2. A new group under the code name NextAction has been formed based on key specialists from the project, which will work on a prototype of a completely new game.
Last month, NCSOFT officially confirmed the end of support for the cross-platform Blade & Soul 2, launched in August 2021 exclusively in South Korea. The game servers will be permanently shut down on June 30, 2026.
In response, the management initiated an internal restructuring: former developers of the Blade & Soul sequel moved to NextAction under the leadership of business director Paek Seung Wook. The team is headed by Kim Jin Tae.
The small group of about 10 people includes specialists in art direction and design. Their task is to create a game prototype where the focus shifts from NCSOFT’s traditional large-scale PvP battles and social interaction to a deep combat system and precise character control. The team’s name, NextAction, hints at this.
The project is at an experimental stage and is not related to the previously announced Project JSY, which is being developed by another division. To gain the status of a full development department, NextAction must successfully present the prototype to the internal board. In case of failure, the team may be disbanded — this is part of NCSOFT’s risk minimization strategy.
It is not yet known whether the new game will use the Blade & Soul universe or become a completely original IP. Fans hope that the team’s experience will help create a dynamic action project capable of reviving interest in the brand after the sequel’s failure.