NCsoft has today announced the opening of its wholly owned Japanese subsidiary, NCsoft Japan KK, in Osaka. Valued at ¥100 million (£494,000) NCsoft Japan KK forms a new area for the company to deliver its 'Global Infrastructure, Local Content' strategy, which will lead to the subsidiary eventually developing online games for the Asian markets.

Already responsible for launching Lineage and Lineage II in Japan, NCsoft recorded ¥429 million (£4.4 million) in revenue and ¥881 million (£2.1 million) in operating profit in the territory during the course of 2005. The Japanese market already contributes around 20% of NCsoft's overseas sales, and a move to establish a subsidiary in the country is sure to strengthen that figure, especially when the company is set to launch Guild Wars in Japan on January 27th.

Chris Chung, the Vice President of IBU (International Business Unit) at NCsoft commented, "By joining the industry acknowledged game experts of Japan with know-how's of global online game publisher, NCsoft, we expect greater synergy effects in near future".

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