NCSoft invests $5m in Canadian mobile game studio

Following up on its recently announced plans for expansion into new business segments such as mobile and tablet games, NCSoft has invested $5m into Vancouver-based mobile startup This Game Studio.

Speaking with Games Beat, NCSoft West executive Michael Chang explained the acquisition strengthens the company’s continued expansion into the western market.

"This is part of our desire to work with some of the best mobile game developers in the world,” Chang said. You will see us become more active on investments and acquisitions in the West."

This Game Studio’s core team is comprised of ex-Kabam (previously Exploding Barrel) members, with the startup’s first game currently in development.

In a separate but related bit of news, Gamasutra reports NC Soft has laid off 16 customer support staff out of the firm’s Austin, Texas office. Customer support moving forward for the company will be transitioned to "an external provider."

"Today’s change should have no impact to former, current or future customers and is intended to enable NCsoft West to more easily scale its future support organization for new products on new platforms,” a company rep stated.