Taewon Yun, a seasoned professional in the gaming industry, has announced that he has become the Senior Vice President and Head of Game Strategy at NCSoft, a leading South Korean video game developer.

Founded in 1997 by Kim Taek-jin, commonly referred to as “TJ,” NCSoft has established itself as a leading developer and publisher of online and mobile games. The company is renowned for titles such as Lineage, Guild Wars, and Blade & Soul.

Taewon Yun brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as Chief Business Officer at Super Evil Megacorp, where he was instrumental in the global expansion of the mobile esports title Vainglory.

I am excited to share that I recently joined NCSOFT as the Senior Vice President & Head of Game Strategy. Last year, I mentioned my plans to build an independent advisory service, Fey Twin Research, to give back to the game community.

I know you might chuckle, especially since I have joined a large corporation. You might be wondering why I decided to return to Korea and join NCSOFT.

Taewon Yun

A new era for NCSoft

In his new role, Yun is set to focus on expanding the company’s global reach, pioneering new gaming genres, and exploring innovative approaches within the industry.

Yun has expressed a strong commitment to leveraging the company’s strengths to navigate the evolving gaming landscape and foster creativity and innovation within the company.

NCSoft has encountered several challenges in recent years, including declining revenues from its flagship Lineage series and increased competition in the global gaming market. The company reported a 75% year-on-year decline in operating profit in the second quarter of 2024, attributed to increased marketing costs and a slump in mobile game sales.

As you know, NCSOFT has faced some challenges over the last couple years, similiar to most other large game publishers. NCSOFT does, however, possess strong fundamentals in technology, talent, and a visionary founder. Over the past 25 years, TJ has invited me numerous times to join NCSOFT during our tea or meal meetings.

I declined every time until now. I believe this is the perfect moment to help usher in a new era for NCSOFT. My focus will be on expanding NC’s global reach, pioneering new genres, and exploring innovative approaches.

Taewon Yun

In response to these challenges, NCSoft has initiated significant restructuring efforts. The company announced the creation of four independent subsidiaries, including three game development studios—Studio X, Studio Y, and Studio Z—and an AI-focused studio named NC AI.

On August 1st, 2024, NCsoft, has invested $3.5m in Moon Rover Games. A studio based in Stockholm, Sweden, Moon Rover Games was founded by experienced developers who have worked on blockbuster franchises such as Battlefield, Far Cry, Star Wars Battlefront, Tom Clancy’s The Division, and Mirror’s Edge.

Taewon Yun finished his announcement with the following statement:

Let’s reconnect and explore opportunities to innovate and elevate the gaming industry together. Feel free to reach out – I’m always open to new ideas and collaborations! Especially crazy ideas. You know I love working on crazy ideas.

Taewon Yun