Lineage W

Lineage W is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by NCSoft as the fifth major installment in the Lineage series, incorporating elements from earlier titles. Announced in August 2021, it was released on November 4, 2021, for Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows in East Asia, with cross-platform play support across mobile, PC, and consoles. Initially planned for a worldwide release, it remains unavailable outside of Asia but is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.

During development, NCSoft emphasized Lineage W as its largest launch title, targeting a global audience with a single build to foster a unified battle community. The game was developed using Unreal Engine 4 to transition from 2.5D to 3D graphics and features real-time AI translation and voice-to-text capabilities for seamless communication.

Pre-release expectations were mixed due to concerns about pay-to-win mechanics, but Lineage W achieved significant success in South Korea and Taiwan. It topped app store charts in South Korea, generating an estimated 16 billion won daily in its first four days and surpassing 200 billion won by December 2021. However, it underperformed in other Asian markets like Japan, Singapore, and the UAE, which may explain NCSoft's reluctance to expand globally and its decision to close Ntreev Soft.