[Courtesy of Netmarble]
Netmarble, the world's third largest mobile game developer, vowed to release its new popular mobile game "Lineage 2: Revolution" in China by the end of this year or in the first half of next year at the latest.
The mobile game, which was unveiled in December last year, will make its debut in Japan in the third quarter. "I think its release in China will be possible in the fourth quarter or in the first quarter of next year at the latest," Netmarble head Kwon Young-sig told reporters.
"With our thorough localization and publishing strategy, we're preparing to release Revolution in Japan and China," he said.
Netmarble's initial public offering (IPO) in May would be a good opportunity for the company to expand its presence abroad, he said. The IPO could fetch at least 2.5 trillion won (2.2 billion US dollars). Netmarble wants to sell 16.95 million shares at a price band of between 121,000 won and 157,000 won but market expectations are high because of its high growth potential.
The proceeds will be used for the "aggressive" acquisition of big game developers and intellectual property firms, Kwon said, suggesting that his company would be able to raise up to five trillion.
Netmarble posted 1.5 trillion won in sales last year. In February this year, the company rose to the No. 3 spot in the world's mobile game publisher ranking, catapulted by the successful launch of Lineage 2: Revolution, which is a free-to-play MMORPG game but users are required to purchase in-game items for a more intensified gaming experience.
Kwon said Netmarble aims to become a top global player by releasing various genres of new games. The company has already acquired foreign game makers such as SGN, a popular mobile puzzle game maker, in July 2015 and an American game creator group, Kabam Vancouver Studio, in February this year.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
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