Lion Games

About Lion Games

Lion Games Co., Ltd. is a South Korean game developer established in July 2011 by CEO Yoon Sung-jun. Yoon began his career in the gaming industry in 1999 at NCsoft, where he was involved in brand strategy for prominent titles like 'Lineage' and 'Lineage 2'. His experience, including a role as the business manager for NCsoft's joint venture in Thailand, provided him with a global perspective that shaped Lion Games' direction. The company was founded during a period when the mobile game market was beginning to dominate, yet Lion Games chose to focus on developing PC online games.

The company's primary and most well-known product is 'SoulWorker', an anime-styled, free-to-play action MMORPG for PC. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where players assume the role of 'SoulWorkers', individuals with supernatural powers, to fight against demons emerging from a portal known as the void. 'SoulWorker' features third-person action combat, over 100 PvE dungeons, and a PvP zone. A distinctive feature is its emotion system, where feelings like vengeance or madness can activate special character abilities. The game's business model is based on being free-to-play, likely generating revenue through in-game purchases of virtual items and cosmetics.

The development and launch of 'SoulWorker' were fraught with challenges. After starting development in 2011, the team had to reset their progress in 2013. The company faced significant setbacks, including the withdrawal of a publishing partner, which nearly derailed the project. Despite these hurdles, 'SoulWorker' was first launched in Japan on April 6, 2016, followed by a Korean release on January 18, 2017, in partnership with Smilegate. The game later expanded to North American and European markets in 2018. In 2018, following a period of financial difficulty and staff reductions, an unexpected surge in 'SoulWorker's' popularity revitalized the company, leading to a valuation of 60 billion won and securing a 12.5 billion won investment from eight venture capital firms, including AJU IB Investment and Partners Investment. As of late 2023, publishing responsibilities for 'SoulWorker' have been transferred to Valofe to ensure continued maintenance and service.