[Interview] Talking to the International Project Team Leader of "Ragnarok 2" About the Global Project "SAMURAI CROW" and Its Meaning
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/003/G000364/20251031029/
Writer: Yamaguchi Kazunori | 2025/11/04 06:00 (UTC)
After 22 years since its launch in South Korea and 21 years of service in Japan, “Lineage II” is set to receive its first-ever global simultaneous major update—“Global Project SAMURAI CROW”—on November 5, 2025.
Currently, Lineage II operates across seven regions: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Europe, North America, and South America. Traditionally, updates are rolled out first in South Korea, followed by region-specific localization and gradual implementation. However, this time, “SAMURAI CROW” will be deployed simultaneously across all service areas—a groundbreaking move for Lineage II.
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Interview: What is the Global Project “SAMURAI CROW”? We asked the Japanese Executive Producer about Lineage II’s latest update
On October 1, NC Japan announced the Global Project “SAMURAI CROW” for PC MMORPG Lineage II, featuring a new class inspired by samurai—“Crow”—and a new server. But what exactly will this update bring? We spoke with Yuuji Arai, Executive Producer of Lineage II in Japan.
[2025/10/24 18:00]
- Keywords:
- PC:Lineage II
- PC
- RPG
- MMO
- NCSOFT
- NC Japan
- Fantasy
- South Korea
- Interview
- Writer: Kazunori Yamaguchi
SAMURAI CROW is packed with exciting new content, including the samurai-inspired class “Crow” and a new server named “Crow.” But why was this initiative taken in the first place? This is something every Lineage II player would want to know. Recently, we had a brief conversation with Kim Kyoung-yeon, Overseas Planning Team Leader of Lineage II, just before the start of the event “Lineage 2 Grand Thank You Festival - The Beginning of a New Legend.”
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Report: “Lineage 2 Grand Thank You Festival” Offline Event Unveils Latest “SAMURAI CROW” Info
Report: “Lineage 2 Grand Thank You Festival” Offline Event Unveils Latest “SAMURAI CROW” Info
On October 26, NC Japan held the offline event “Lineage 2 Grand Thank You Festival - The Beginning of a New Legend” in Tokyo. We report on this gathering where over 200 Lineage II fans interacted with both the Japanese operations team and development staff from South Korea.
[2025/10/28 19:43]
- Keywords:
- PC:Lineage II
- PC
- RPG
- MMO
- NCSOFT
- NC Japan
- Fantasy
- South Korea
- Event
- Writer: Kazunori Yamaguchi
*Note: This interview was conducted just before the offline event, so some questions refer to content revealed during the event.
4Gamer:
Today we’re honored to have you. To start off—how exactly did the “Global Project” come about?
Kim:
With Lineage II celebrating its 22nd anniversary and 21 years of global service—including in Japan—we wanted to deliver an experience that would inspire players worldwide.
We wanted to preserve what makes Lineage II unique while introducing new concepts that would resonate with a diverse global audience. The goal was for this freshness to seamlessly integrate into the world of Lineage II.
The weight built over years, and the flexibility needed when embracing change—these qualities are embodied in our latest challenge: “Crow.”
4Gamer:
You mentioned “challenge”—was developing the Global Project and “Crow” a difficult process?
Kim:
Previously, updates were implemented first in South Korea, then localized and rolled out to other regions after three or four months. During that time, localization, translation, and testing took place. But this time, we’re doing simultaneous global deployment—which meant many of the 22 years’ worth of accumulated experience couldn’t be fully applied.
Of course, we had prepared thoroughly in advance—but it was still extremely challenging.
The regions covered by this synchronized update include North America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, and Europe. Each has region-specific localization and tailored processes. Balancing these while coordinating for simultaneous deployment added a whole new level of difficulty compared to past preparations.
Currently, mobile services are designed with global rollout in mind from the start. But Lineage II’s long history means it wasn’t originally planned this way. To achieve real-time updates like modern mobile games, we had to completely rework our existing processes—requiring significant effort.
4Gamer:
It’s clear things were tougher than usual.
Kim:
Everyone has been working hard—even today (staff in South Korea are still at work). We’ll keep pushing until November 5th. (laughs)
4Gamer:
Will the “Crow” server continue to receive simultaneous updates globally?
Kim:
We can’t reveal exact timelines yet, but for now we’re aiming for synchronized rollouts—content will be introduced in each region nearly simultaneously with South Korea.
Starting with this November update, events that compare rankings across service regions will be implemented. To ensure fairness, it’s essential that content updates happen at the same time across all areas.
Once this phase settles, we’ll assess game conditions and player feedback to deliver the best possible service tailored to each region.
4Gamer:
Lineage II currently doesn’t have a Japanese-themed area inspired by “Crow,” but are there plans for new regions like that?
Kim:
Yes—new locations such as Crow’s village and hunting grounds will be added.
At first glance, samurai might seem out of place in the world of Lineage II. But we decided to implement “Crow” because we had full confidence in faithfully recreating samurai culture while seamlessly integrating it into our existing world.
We’re convinced that Japanese culture holds universal appeal—something people everywhere can connect with. That’s why we’ve avoided over-interpretation, striving instead to express the natural beauty of Japan: Crow’s village and castle, cherry blossoms—all rendered as authentically Japanese as possible.
If players find these visuals meaningful and memorable, we’ll be very happy.
4Gamer:
You said Japanese culture has universal appeal—was that the reason behind choosing samurai as the theme for this Global Project?
Kim:
Our goal this year was to deliver simultaneous global launches and show players a new version of Lineage II. In brainstorming fresh ideas, we thought: “If we use Japan’s samurai IP, people from every country would likely be interested.” We pitched the idea to our teams in the U.S., Europe, and Russia—and received positive feedback. So we moved forward with the samurai theme.
4Gamer:
Was ninja ever considered as an alternative?
Kim:
Yes, ninja was a candidate too. After internal discussions, we concluded that samurai better suited the game’s tone—more visually striking and impactful. Most of our development team members are in their 40s, who grew up with games like “SAMURAI SHODOWN” (or “SAMURAI SPIRITS”), so they have fond memories of samurai. Plus, many players are around that age too, making the theme more relatable and enjoyable.
Also, since Lineage II already has an Assassin class, we avoided overlap by choosing samurai instead.
4Gamer:
From the developers’ perspective—what’s the biggest selling point of “Crow”?
Kim:
To make samurai feel natural in Lineage II’s Western fantasy world—and to preserve the authenticity of real samurai culture—we conducted strict reference checks. For example, we consulted experts on sword movements and incorporated those into the game’s animations to ensure they look truly authentic.
The stylish design and visually impressive skills are key strengths.
Also, while based on South Korea’s standards, Lineage II typically rolls out 2–3 major updates per year—characters introduced in autumn tend to be powerful. “Crow” has been designed with performance and motion that defy such expectations—so please look forward to it!
4Gamer:
The Global Update will also introduce the new server “Crow.” What’s the concept behind this server? And will it coexist with existing servers—for example, in Japan where we currently have Live, Classic, Aden, and Eva—adding a Crow server?
Kim:
The Crow server is fundamentally based on the Eva server but has its own unique features. It’s designed as a distinct new server that stands apart from current offerings.
Each of the existing servers—Live, Classic, Aden, Eva—has its own identity and reflects our team’s trials, efforts, and creative legacy. For this Crow server, we’ve built an environment tailored to players’ lifestyles, making it easy to adjust your gameplay style accordingly.
We hope players will deeply immerse themselves in Lineage II’s charm on this new server, where calmness and excitement coexist. And we truly wish for this server to become a cherished “legacy” remembered by all.
The greatest joy would be if players feel the urge during daily life: “I need to finish work early so I can log into Lineage II.”
4Gamer:
Is the Crow server meant to represent a new form of Lineage II—or perhaps serve as a prototype for future services?
Kim:
In South Korea, we’ve added a new server every time we introduce a new class. That’s why each server has slightly different features—this approach allows us to constantly experiment.
This time with the Crow server, we’re introducing the concepts of “NON-PVP” and “Focused Time,” aiming to showcase a fresh side of Lineage II. But this isn’t meant to define the game’s future direction.
For example, Eva service is NON-PVP in Japan—but not elsewhere. Since Japanese players enjoy playing on Eva, that decision was successful. Based on that experience, we designed the Crow server using Eva as its foundation but added NON-PVP and focused time features.
4Gamer:
So for other regions besides Japan, will the Crow server still be NON-PVP?
Kim:
Yes—this version of the Crow server is a NON-PVP server across all service areas.
4Gamer:
When I asked Mr. Arai (Lineage II Executive Producer in Japan) earlier about Eva’s launch, he mentioned there seems to be a global trend toward NON-PVP servers. Is that true?
Kim:
Our development team analyzes data from all regions—still, server preferences vary by country. Sometimes players want intense PvP; other times they just want peaceful hunting. We aim to create an environment where players can switch their playstyle based on mood.
Since auto-hunting became the base mechanic, unintended PvP encounters sometimes occur—which creates stress. Our goal is to eliminate that frustration: if you want to hunt, hunt freely; if you want PvP, enjoy it fully—without compromise.
4Gamer:
Personally, I’ve always thought the essence of Lineage II lies in a world where free PvP and brutal combat coexist with adventurous freedom. Yet here comes “Crow,” described as embodying Lineage II’s core—but it’s NON-PVP. So what exactly does development see as the “essence” of Lineage II?
Kim:
We believe the essence of Lineage II is the diverse stories born from player-to-player relationships. Whether dramatic tales of free PvP or intense competition, or peaceful narratives built on cooperation and harmony—each story matters deeply because it’s created by players themselves.
The Crow server is indeed based on NON-PVP across all regions—but during “Focused Time,” PvP settings are temporarily disabled, enabling more dynamic gameplay. We’re genuinely excited to see what kind of stories will emerge this time around.
4Gamer:
By the way—when I first heard about the “Global Project,” I mistakenly thought it meant players from every region would finally be able to play together in one shared space or server. Is that something planned?
Kim:
It’s a tricky question, but… we’ve heard similar reactions internally too. We have discussed it, but technically speaking, there are very significant barriers to overcome. So for now, no concrete plans exist.
4Gamer:
Understood.
Kim:
But yes—there is definitely interest and desire within our team.
4Gamer:
One more thing: Is this SAMURAI CROW project a standalone initiative—or the first in a series of Global Projects?
Kim:
This was our very first attempt, involving major changes to processes and extensive preparations. While we’re confident it will bring new excitement, we don’t yet know how players will react—since it hasn’t been released yet.
If we successfully manage risks and players genuinely enjoy SAMURAI CROW—we might consider sequels. But right now, no specific plans exist.
4Gamer:
So future updates based on other regions are still uncertain?
Kim:
Honestly, I can easily picture samurai as a shared global image—but it’s hard to imagine what theme could follow next with the same universal appeal.
We received positive feedback from teams in other regions about looking forward to “Crow”—because samurai is such a widely recognized and powerful IP.
But right now, we simply can’t think of another IP that holds the same level of global resonance.
4Gamer:
Finally, what message would you like to share with Japanese players who are eagerly anticipating Lineage II’s future?
Kim:
Through “Global Project SAMURAI CROW,” we’ve taken a bold step forward. Based on this experience, we’ll continue exploring more diverse directions in the future. Moving forward, we hope to remain as present and reliable as Crow—adaptable, flexible, and always discovering new ways to enjoy Lineage II with you. Thank you for your continued support.
4Gamer:
Thank you very much today.