South Korean game developer NCSOFT Corp. announced a $3.5 million investment in Swedish startup Moon Rover Games, marking its sole participation in the seed funding round. The investment will support the development of Moon Rover’s first-person shooter game, Project Aldous, designed for computers and consoles.
Founded in 2022, Stockholm-based Moon Rover Games is led by veterans from EA Digital Illusions (DICE), known for their work on popular titles such as Battlefield, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s The Division. The proceeds from NCSOFT’s investment will be used to create new intellectual properties for the upcoming game.
NCSOFT is also considering additional investments and aims to secure publishing rights for Project Aldous. This move aligns with NCSOFT’s strategy to diversify its game portfolio beyond massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), such as its well-known Lineage series, to attract a younger audience.
“We see Moon Rover Games as a high-potential company leveraging its expertise in the shooting genre,” stated Park Byungmoo, co-CEO of NCSOFT. He emphasized that Project Aldous would complement NCSOFT’s existing titles and contribute to its global expansion.
NCSOFT is actively seeking investments in both domestic and international game development studios to broaden its range of genres and platforms. In August, the company plans to announce new investments in a Korean game development studio, including acquiring stakes and publishing rights for a joint project targeting Southeast Asia.
This strategic partnership with Moon Rover Games reflects NCSOFT’s commitment to innovation and expansion in the global gaming market, strengthening its position across diverse gaming genres.
