LINE Games, a Naver Corporation affiliate, announced it had secured a 100 billion won ($88.14 million) investment from Chinese tech company Tencent. Tencent is one of the world’s largest game publishers, with investments in companies such as Riot Games and Epic Games.
According to LINE Games, the large-scale Tencent backing sets up its global game competitiveness groundwork, promoting business diversity and expertise.
Although the two game providers have not yet completed the investment, they aim to finish the deal this month. When the companies finalize the investment process, LINE Games plans to strengthen its global game distribution and game development capabilities. Through the Tencent investment, LINE Games would considerably boost its gaming sector competitiveness, heightening the competition throughout worldwide game publishers.
Gaming Business Enhancements and Global Expansion
“It is positive that we have attracted large-scale investment in the situation ahead of the release of a new game,” said LINE Games on the Tencent investment. “We expect that this will be an opportunity for LINE Games to grow significantly.” Last year, LINE Games announced its partnership with South Korean PC and mobile game developer WeMade to develop an MMORPG. Named Icarus Eternal, LINE Games’ new mobile-based MMORPG will be launched during 2021’s first half.
In addition to the Tencent deal, LINE Games would diversify its gaming operations by supporting various platforms, including mobile, PC, and console. LINE Games would also enhance its competitiveness by developing new games, securing various intellectual properties, and collaborating with content developers.
Through LINE Games, Naver reinforces its standing in the ever-growing gaming market and boosts its game developing and publishing businesses. LINE Games plans to deliver game content and leverage its operational capacity to accelerate its content rollout to international markets. Furthermore, the Naver affiliate continues to expand its game distribution capacities using its accumulated know-how throughout years of game development.
Recently, LINE Games has released numerous mobile and PC games, including Dragon Flight, Destiny Child, Exos Heroes, and Smash Legends. In 2020, the company launched Buried Stars, a mystery-adventure game that supports various playing platforms such as TV, tabletop, and handheld devices. Additionally, LINE Games released its new cross-platform, multiplayer defense game Guardian Chronicle on Steam Early Access across 140 countries.
