E3 '07: NCsoft teams with Sony

South Korea-based MMOG publisher bringing "several" exclusive, unannounced games to PS3, PSP.

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--Game announcements were served up du jour at Sony's press conference earlier today at the E3 Media and Business Summit. However, Sony also served up a heaping helping of its online plan, including several new looks at the revamped Home service.

Home wasn't the only online integration on Sony's plate, however. During the conference, the megapublisher also announced an exclusive partnership with South Korea-based massively multiplayer online aficionados NCsoft to create several online games for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable.

Sony also has its in-house studio Sony Online Entertainment developing games for the PlayStation Network. In June, SOE announced its latest game for Sony's online network, titled The Agency. SOE has also brought several classic games to the PlayStation 3, including Q*bert, Rampart, and Mortal Kombat II.

Aside from the announcement itself, Sony did not announce any games that NCsoft had in the works for either platform.

59 Comments

  • Lost_forgotten

    Posted Mar 14, 2008 11:06 am PT

    The Marvel Universe Online (MMO) is cancelled lol.

  • shortster1

    Posted Oct 9, 2007 6:55 pm PT

    I think it would be awesome if they made a new type of city of heroes game to the ps3. I even thought city of heroes was better than WOW. It would also be awesome because you would actually be able to talk to people to let them know your not perverted or something like that. I also think it would be easier to organize things on the ps3. But thats just my opinion

  • msudude211

    Posted Jul 14, 2007 4:18 pm PT

    Thanks for the info...

  • fierro316

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 6:51 pm PT

    I want Guild Wars 2

  • BulletProof007

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 1:40 pm PT

    This sounds like a good deal for PS3 and PSP owners. Can't wait to see what they bring to the platforms.

  • TehPickle

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 1:16 pm PT

    Sonovius-- That made me chuckle. Comedic truth without a hint of irony.

  • DouglasBuffone

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 12:16 pm PT

    NCsoft has so very interesting titles scheduled for release for the PS3 and PSP

  • Sonovius

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 11:38 am PT

    The names on any Marvel MMO are going to be so bad. Worse than FF11. I wonder how many variations of xXxWolvarinez44xXx there will be?

    Will I play it? Good heavens yes.

  • Oni

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 9:42 am PT

    Microsoft Game Studios already announced a partnership with Cryptic Studios and Marvel to publish the Marvel MMO to 360 and Vista. Cryptic developed the City of Heros games and is not owned by NCsoft. Since "ArenaNet" is a subsidiary of NCsoft, there could easily be Guild War games made for PS3. This news isn't that great because NCsoft as a developer only created Lineage, and if you played those games know why I'm not enthusiastic. I'll wait and see before I applaud Sony for this move.

  • kyo_tetsuei

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 9:35 am PT

    I've never really been a fan of MMO-style games on consoles, for fairly obvious reasons, but it seems to me that NCsoft-ish games might do well, their control schemes and game design seems to lend itself to gamepad control fairly well. We'll see how it pans out, but this is potentially good news for Sony.

  • Sonovius

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 9:05 am PT

    Y'all are excited about Korean MMOs? Have you played any? They are the WORST.

  • TehPickle

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 8:53 am PT

    adidaspj --Yes, it will no doubt be a new IP, but CoH and GW being total dross isn't what makes me so cynical about this partnership.

    The problem is NCSoft make the most woefully mundane games swallowed first and foremost by a market (Korea) that revels in mediocrity. NCSoft have let me down so many times in the past with their games I don't think I can trust them to ever make a truly worthwhile game. I sincerely hope Sony know what they're doing with this.

  • StSk8ter29

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 8:46 am PT

    All I have to say is......GUILD WARS PS3. Come on, we all can dream lol. Tabula Rasa may have a chance though...

  • cuneofamily

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 8:30 am PT

    Finally my PS3 is getting the limelight it should

  • Chirico_Cuvie

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 8:27 am PT

    Auto Assault for PS3, Woo!

  • s0njas0n

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 8:14 am PT

    this is one of the best things i've heard from sony in a long time.

  • Chocolate_Hero

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 7:34 am PT

    I found this announcement to be one of the highlights of the Sony press conference. I'm definitely intrigued, and I can't wait to see what comes out of this partnership.

  • Reetesh

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 5:59 am PT

    NCSoft = No fee MMOos PS3 = No fee Online play... maybe SOny will learn how to handle things being free and everything from them

  • livinglegend305

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 5:20 am PT

    :-)

  • martin_f

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 4:51 am PT

    Whats happening with the Marvel MMO then? or are Cryptic studios going it alone with Microsoft?

  • -Krakapow-

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 4:39 am PT

    im not a mmo fan myself but i know they can mean big money. exclusive mmos is good news for sony.

  • salamancecool

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 4:09 am PT

    Guild wars PSP

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 3:31 am PT

    Would of been nice to know what games they were planning on doing.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 3:13 am PT

    Partnership? Damn it NCSoft.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 1:21 am PT

    I'm not keeping my hopes up on this one though

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 1:03 am PT

    smartest idea that could happen if done correctly. an MMO for the PSP, given it must be a superb game not some halfbaked corspe of a traditional MMO. But that would work ... and its got memsticks for updates as long as the updates arent 500megs a piece

  • jared81799

    Posted Jul 12, 2007 12:14 am PT

    this could be interesting

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 11:39 pm PT

    Keep a hold of those exclusives Sony!

  • adidaspj

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 11:39 pm PT

    gah they say NCsoft will make online games for PS3 and PSP
    and people immediately say "GW SUCKS, COH SUCKS"
    maybe it will be (god forbid) a new IP?

    wooooow i just blew your mind didn't i?

  • runstalker

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 10:59 pm PT

    They should put GW 2 on the machine. It'll be using a next-gen engine (as opposed to the wide range spec-friendly GW engine) and have a big shared open world. Would be a great showcase.

  • the-very-best

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 10:02 pm PT

    Very exciting news. Can't wait to see what they have in store for PS3. Too many good games for the PS3 though, need more money!

  • starwood10 posted Jul 11, 2007 9:47 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    starwood10

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 9:47 pm PT (hide)

    Wow that is ironic. I always hated Sony for making crap electronics and selling their inferior products at a high premium over their competitiors just because of their name. I also hated NCSoft for making crap games and the false marketing of their products. Now they have teamed to no doubt create the ultimate form of crap imaginable!

    But, there may be some good news to this... maybe NCSoft will soon just make games for PS3 & PSP and STOP MAKING PC GAMES ALTOGETHER! Just think, how much more pleasant PC gaming could be if NCSoft made all their garbage developments exclusive to the PS3 & PSP.

    PS. For the fanboy who thinks that "MILLIONS" play Guild Wars everyday and told us" fools" to "get a life," I think you need to retake grade one math. NCSoft publicizes sales of Guild Wars by including any sale of Prophecies, Factions or Nightfall. This total was last tallied at just over 3 million sold, NOT 3 million players. MOST people who bought the game don't play it anymore. Simply add the number of servers you see when you play, and multiply that by the max players per server (which is still overestimating) and you will be lucky to find a couple of hundred thousand people playing. I'm pretty sure more people play RappelZ and SilkRoad Online than Guild Wars now lol. Guild Wars was just a fad because it was advertised as a F2P MMO. So if you're still playing it... guess who needs to get a life.

  • Paper_Knife

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 9:30 pm PT

    please dont make a crappy game *crosses fingers*

  • YukoAsho

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:56 pm PT

    SulaMoon - Against Nintendo? Maybe. Against Blizzard? Yeah, I'm with you. The idea that anything NCSoft makes will ever put a dent into WoW is laughable.

  • jesus_knight

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:56 pm PT

    finally sony is starting to make good moves, good luck sony!

  • TehPickle

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:51 pm PT

    I debated with myself for a little while before posting this, you're all probably thinking I'm just a cynical MS/Ninty fanboy for saying this (actually not in the slightest bit true), but here goes:

    NCSoft haven't made a single game that has occupied me for more than an hour or 2 at best. I bought CoH and a 2 month game time card and 1 month and 29 days went to waste. I would say exactly the same thing about Guild Wars except that was free, but it pales in comparison to any true MMO, it wasn't in the slightest bit cohesive - to such an extent that it isn't really an MMO at all. Auto Assault was utter garbage as well.

    I'll stop myself listing all their games now before I somehow start some silly flaming war. Just one more thing to say:

    It's great Sony are going to get some exclusives (at long last as I'm sure most of you would agree) I just can't help but think that Korean-style MMOs (seriously people, they' have very little going for them) are the right choice. Heck if NCSoft go completely crazy and make a game that's actually worth the investment I'll eat my words along with a huge slice of humble pie. I wish Sony the best of luck in this endeavour / gamble.

  • SulaMoon

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:29 pm PT

    hehe
    A big force against blizzard/nintendo?
    This could either be a big waste of time or a the birth of a big parternship...

  • Bansheesdie

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 8:16 pm PT

    Why the lack of announcements Sony and NCsoft?

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:43 pm PT

    --axia_777 --
    As far a GW goes it's a good game...for a while, but it gets old fast...and it's free so at least you can come back to it months later but saying it rocks it a bit overboard.

    As for MMO's in general I think the problem becomes the better ones are more complet and will not translate well to consoles. And the moment someone says you can use a keyboad / mouse with a console then I'd rather play on PC. Keyboad / mouse on a couch sucks.

    Somethings are better on specific platforms.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:34 pm PT

    Good news for the PS3 and Sony.

  • YukoAsho

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:34 pm PT

    PS3 Port of Auto Assault, you heard it here first!

  • DJSMITH007

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:26 pm PT

    Hmm, I wonder if its going to be a form of Guild Wars, cause that would be really cool

  • Ground_Zero

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 7:22 pm PT

    pfft Guild Wars sucks, City of Heros/Villians rocks

  • axia_777

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 6:52 pm PT

    Yah know, if NCSoft had teamed up with Microsoft and the 360, every single 360 X-Bot fanboy would be cheering it like it was the best thing ever. But since it is NCSoft and Sony obviously it will suck, yah right. Get a life fools. Guild Wars rocks. Millions play it every day. NCSoft can make good games and they will make good games for PS3. I just hope it is not GW and it ALL NEW. An all new MMO just for PS3. That is what I think Sony and NCSoft are gunning for. WOOT!!!!

  • Dezuria

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 6:22 pm PT

    People say Live is better than PSN, so why is PSN better for online games? Does the whole open-source whatever make a difference? Is Microsoft really strict when it comes to online stuff?

  • Hokkie

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 6:13 pm PT

    NCsoft hasnt shown that great of products. With one permanantly shutting down and two that are practically identical. For Sony's sake, they better not ask for a CoH/CoV PS3 style

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 5:55 pm PT

    this will be exciting...in a couple 3 years

  • asmodeus_z

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 5:48 pm PT

    Is it too late for Sony to play catching up?

  • MarcusMuchgame

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 5:21 pm PT

    1 more notch in sonys belt !

  • SteadyShark

    Posted Jul 11, 2007 5:12 pm PT

    Well, it must be one hellova prison for all of these titles to want to jump ship or develop for 360 right off the bat.

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Tags

e3   e3 07   e3 2007   mmo   mmog   mortal kombat ii   ncsoft   ps3   psp   sony

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!