Harmonix partners with NCSoft to release multiplatform title

Rock Band creator Harmonix Music Systems has partnered with Blade & Soul and Lineage creators NCSoft in order to develop and release a new game, the companies have announced. The game is in extremely early stages of development, but is planned to be released on PC and consoles.

NCSoft will publish the title, while Harmonix will handle the development. “This partnership is representative of NCSoft’s ambition to reach beyond the PC and mobile MMORPG space with new and innovative titles,” said NCSoft president Dr. Songyee Yoon. “Harmonix’s decades of expertise at the intersection of music licensing and video game development are second to none, and we can’t wait to introduce their upcoming project to the world.”

Harmonix CEO Steve Janiak echoed Yoon’s sentiments, adding: “We’re thrilled to team up with NCSoft as a publisher that shares our vision for the evolution of entertainment, and what it takes to build a community on modern gaming platforms. NCSoft’s stellar reputation as a partner, combined with its incredible publishing expertise, means that we can focus fully on developing our next genre-defining music experience. I am fully confident they will help deliver what I genuinely believe will be a one-of-a-kind game.”

The partnership with Harmonix is just the latest in a series of deals NCSoft has made in recent years, as it seeks to expand its presence in the digital entertainment space. The company recently invested $19.7 million (£15.1 million) in VFX studio ‘4th Creative Party’, as well as other third party developers such as This Game Studio.