NCsoft "actively developing" for consoles - but not Xbox 360

Korea-based online gaming giant NCsoft is preparing to launch titles on next-generation consoles, according to chief executive Tack Jin Kim, who confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that development work is already underway.

The company, which is behind the world's largest massively multiplayer game series, Lineage, as well as titles including City of Heroes and Guild Wars, has until now focused exclusively on the PC platform.

However, Kim - who is founder and president as well as CEO of the firm - openly confirmed that the company is now "actively developing" for next-generation consoles, which he considers key to building the firm up in markets outside Korea.

NCsoft is already the largest gaming company in its native country, and its titles are proving a major draw at this week's G* games expo at the Kintex exhibition centre near the capital city, Seoul.

Kim did not discuss specifics of the company's development work on next-generation consoles, nor did he reveal which platforms the firm is working on - but sources close to NCsoft's European division revealed that Xbox 360 is not part of the company's plans at the moment, suggesting that the PS3 is the target platform for NCsoft's first console titles.

Speaking today at NCsoft's head offices in Seoul, Kim also confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that a European development location is part of the firm's plan for the future, joining the company's other development studios - NC HQ Studios in Seoul, Guild Wars creators Arena.Net in California and Richard Garriott's NC Austin Studio.