NCsoft, the nation’s leading game company, posted 169 billion won ($159 million) in quarterly sales and 31 billion won in operating profit, the company said Friday.

The third quarter earnings dropped by 12 percent in sales and 51 percent in operating profit compared to the previous quarter, falling far short of market expectations.

This was mainly caused by the lackluster sales of its flagship game “Lineage” which saw a 27 percent, or 22.5 billion won, drop from the previous quarter. The company’s move to Pangyo in Gyeonggi Province also made up 70 percent of the increased expenditure of 6 billion won from the previous quarter.

The company expects its game sales to see a turnaround in the fourth quarter.

“Lineage’s ongoing promotions and events are well-received by users. The next quarter will see a better performance,” NCsoft’s executive Na Sung-chan said.

NCsoft kicked off its game “Blade & Soul” in China last month via a Chinese investment holding company Tencent Holdings, and it is also slated to provide “Guild War 2” early next year.

“The company will make its utmost effort for the successful launch of the two games in China next year,” Na said.

(shinjh@heraldcorp.com)