NCSOFT Launches Blade & Soul NEO on Steam, Expands Global IP Strategy
South Korean gaming giant NCSOFT has launched its remastered MMORPG "Blade & Soul NEO" on Steam for North American and European markets on June 4, 2025, expanding access beyond its proprietary PURPLE platform.
NC America made Blade & Soul NEO available on Steam starting June 4, 2025, after the game initially launched February 25 on NCSOFT's proprietary "PURPLE" platform. The Steam expansion aims to reach a broader audience through the world's largest PC distribution platform.
Since its February 25 launch, the game has received two free content updates, Moonwater Plains 1 and 2, with additional content planned through summer 2025. The Steam release includes all three free content updates, with Part 3 launching on May 27th featuring the Twisted Labyrinth and Highland Exile dungeons.
The remastered MMORPG features enhanced graphics, action-based combat, and extensive character customization in a Wuxia-themed fantasy world. Notably, Blade & Soul NEO is the first and only Blade & Soul version to reach Steam, as the original game remains absent from the platform.
The Steam launch represents one component of NCSOFT's international expansion strategy. The company's flagship mobile MMORPG Lineage2M officially launched in six Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines) on May 20, 2025, operated through NCV GAMES, a joint venture with regional partner VNGGames.
The Southeast Asian service connects players across all six countries on a unified server and supports five languages-English, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, and Simplified Chinese. The regional version includes server optimizations and gameplay adjustments tailored for local players.
NCSOFT is collaborating with Tencent Games to bring Lineage2M to China under the localized title "天堂2: 盟約" (Lineage 2: Covenant), following the game's receipt of a foreign publishing license in October 2024. Tencent has managed the live service of the original Lineage 2 in China since 2012, providing extensive experience with the franchise in the region.
NCSOFT's multi-platform strategy leverages its core intellectual properties across PC and mobile platforms while adapting to different regional markets. The company continues expanding its global presence through strategic partnerships and platform diversification, targeting both veteran players and new audiences in key international markets.
