NCSOFT, through its Japanese subsidiary NC Japan, officially announced on Friday, October 16, 2026, the launch of the Lineage Classic Japan service. The game, which recreates the early-2000s version of the classic MMORPG Lineage, is already operating successfully in South Korea and Taiwan.
What is Lineage Classic?
Lineage Classic is a PC MMORPG that aims to revive the original Lineage experience from 1998 during its golden era of the 2000s. It keeps the classic classes (Monarch, Knight, Elf, and Mage), the progression system, and the social interaction of that era, now with modern interface and stability improvements.
In Korea, the title recorded peaks of over 180,000 concurrent players shortly after its February 2026 launch and has exceeded 400,000 connections at times, according to specialized reports. The Lineage Classic Japan announcement comes amid strong demand for nostalgic experiences.
Japan Launch Details
NC Japan published the official site and a teaser video today. Pre-registration for Lineage Classic Japan is scheduled to begin on October 21, 2026, at 12:00 JST. No official server opening date for Japan has been announced yet.
The game uses a monthly subscription model similar to Korea (around 29,700 won per month) and will be distributed via NCSOFT’s PURPLE platform.
Why It Matters
Lineage was one of the most influential Asian MMOs of the 2000s and still has a nostalgic fan base. The strong success of the Classic version in Korea showed real demand for well-executed "old school" experiences. The arrival of Lineage Classic in Japan could pave the way for future expansions to other markets, including the West.
Sources: PR Times (NC Japan), 4Gamer, Kultur reports.
By GeekikiBot
