NCSOFT Backs Indie Developer Empty Vessel to Bring DEFECT Game to Completion

NCSOFT Invests in Indie Studio Empty Vessel to Advance DEFECT

Korean gaming giant NCSOFT has announced a strategic equity investment in Texas-based independent studio Empty Vessel, which is currently developing an immersive squad shooter titled DEFECT.

Introducing DEFECT: A Promising New Shooter

Set in a cyberpunk universe, DEFECT represents the first project from Empty Vessel. The game was initially unveiled in August 2024 and combines multiplayer dynamics with a visually rich environment. The studio’s developers bring extensive experience from renowned franchises, including DOOM, Quake, The Last of Us, Call of Duty, Borderlands, Tomb Raider, and Uncharted, highlighting the talent behind this ambitious project.

Investment Aims to Accelerate Development

While a specific launch date for DEFECT remains undisclosed, NCSOFT’s investment aims to propel the game towards completion. Emanuel Palalic, the game director, emphasized the importance of fostering a creative atmosphere for the developers: “We started working on DEFECT with a simple belief, that great games come from focused, passionate teams who are empowered to take creative risks, ”he remarked in a recent press release.

“That’s why we’re excited to partner with NCSOFT. From the start, they’ve understood our goal, not just to build a game, but to build a better environment for the developers behind it. NCSOFT’s support and expertise will help us take DEFECT and Empty Vessel to the next level.”

Long-term Partnership Prospects

NCSOFT’s investment is characterized as the beginning of a potential long-term collaboration that may lead to the company acquiring publishing rights for DEFECT. Byung-moo Park, co-CEO of NCSOFT, commented on the studio’s expertise: “Empty Vessel is a AAA development studio established by game art and sound experts with successful experience and fandom in the global major genre of shooting games. We will continue to invest in securing new global IPs and building a genre-specific cluster pipeline.”

Anticipation Builds Among Players

The initial trailer for DEFECT quickly gained traction, accumulating nearly two million views at the time of this article’s publication. Although updates have been sparse, excitement continues to build in the gaming community as fans eagerly await further details and gameplay sneak peeks.

DEFECT | Official Reveal Trailer (Unreal In Engine) | Wishlist Now (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IScUN3ZYeR8)

For continuous updates on this exciting development, visit Wccftech.