NCSoft’s graphic wonder Blade & Soul has long been a desire for local MMO fans. Could this Asian wonder finally come to Europe and America?
There are always rumors surrounding every attractive Asian title that is not yet available in the West. And a hot Asian hit like Blade & Soul attracts even more attention. After all, the gameplay videos look fantastic, and the game has proven to be a real cash cow for NCSoft as a real money maker. In the past, guides circulated on some sites about how to play the game on the Korean server despite all difficulties. However, much time has passed since the announcement in September 2012 that Blade and Soul would be released in the Western market. And hope for a localized version fades more and more each month.
However, there is again movement in the rumor mill. The occasion is posts from NCSoft on Facebook. “We hope to have an update for you in the West soon,” it says.
The speculation is further fueled by alleged reports in the Chinese and Asian press that NCSoft is planning a major announcement for Gamescom in Cologne. Although the sourcing for these “alleged reports” is unclear, there seems to be no better date to announce a port of Blade&Soul.
There is also a rumor circulating that Blade&Soul is now being prepared for the West because WildStar (also published by NCSoft) is falling short of expectations. This rumor is referenced by a gamona column, without citing any sources. NCSoft has, however, pointed out several times that the two titles are completely independent of each other.
A few weeks ago, a petition was started, which has since garnered over 3000 supporters. The initiator cannot understand the decision to favor both the Russian and Taiwanese markets over the Western one. After all, it is the more profitable market. The goal of the virtual signature collection is to show NCSoft the high demand for a EU/NA version.
Mein MMO says: We don’t really believe that Blade & Soul will be released in the West anytime soon. However, we would like to be proven wrong. In any case, it is striking that NCSoft has not made any retreat to date. On the contrary: With the comment on June 9, they bring the coveted MMORPG back into discussion. However, this is too little to instill hope.
It is likely that those responsible are still undecided about how to proceed, which is why a final decision is being postponed as far as possible. Localization would represent quite an expensive endeavor, especially for B&S. This already starts with the synchronization since Blade & Soul relies on voiced dialogues and cutscenes in storytelling. Moreover, players have expressed concerns here and there about whether the mass could actually warm up to the Asian gameplay and peculiar art design.
UPDATE 18.08.2014: We must have had a good intuition. At Gamescom, there was indeed a hint from NCSoft. When Blade and Soul is supposed to be released in Europe and America, you can find out in this article.
