NCSOFT is teaming up with Shengqu Games to expand the Aion intellectual property (IP) business in China. The company is pushing for local publishing of the upcoming title Aion 2 while also showcasing two Aion IP games at ChinaJoy 2026. Notably, NCSOFT's strategy is becoming clearer as it collaborates with Tencent Games for Lineage and Shengqu Games for Aion.
According to the gaming industry on July 31, NCSOFT CEO Kim Taek-jin attended a strategic cooperation signing ceremony with Shengqu Games in Shanghai on July 30, focusing on Aion 2's entry into the Chinese market as a key growth strategy.
Shengqu Games has launched the official website for Aion 2, revealing its Chinese service name, "Eternal Tower 2 (永恒之塔2)." This marks the beginning of preparations for Aion 2's publishing in China, with specific details regarding the release schedule and licensing to be announced in due course.
The games based on the Aion IP that NCSOFT is promoting for entry into China include the mobile game Aion Classic (Chinese name: 永恒之塔: 经典) and the PC game Aion 2. Both games are being prepared for the Chinese market in collaboration with Shengqu Games. Aion Classic received its license from Chinese authorities in July.
NCSOFT has maintained a partnership with Shengqu Games since 2009, when Shengqu began managing Aion's services in China. The long-standing collaboration has built a wealth of experience in servicing the Aion IP and understanding Chinese users, which is seen as a foundation for the Aion 2 partnership.
Meanwhile, the Chinese operations for another major IP, Lineage, are handled by Tencent Games, with whom NCSOFT has collaborated since the early 2000s. The mobile game Lineage 2M, released in China in June, features a local version titled "Heaven 2: Pact," also developed in partnership with Tencent Games. The Chinese operations for the Blade & Soul IP are similarly managed by Tencent Games.
As Tencent Games has been a key partner in NCSOFT's Chinese operations, the company is pursuing a strategy of differentiating local partners for each IP, collaborating with Shengqu Games for Aion 2.
The selection of partners for each IP is influenced by the understanding and operational experience that Chinese publishers have with the respective IPs. Given that MMORPGs rely heavily on long-term content supply, user management, and monetization systems for success, it is advantageous for publishers with established service histories to manage sequels, according to industry analysis.
As MMORPGs continue to be a dominant genre in China, NCSOFT is expanding its business for key IPs like Lineage and Aion by partnering with publishers that have accumulated local service experience. With Aion Classic already established, the successful entry of Aion 2 into the local market could diversify revenue sources in China and lay the groundwork for the long-term success of the Aion IP.
NCSOFT is also broadening its engagement with Chinese users. The company is showcasing Aion 2 and Aion Classic at ChinaJoy 2026, which runs until August 3 in Shanghai. The Aion 2 booth is the largest for a single game at the event.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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