NC America, the North American subsidiary of NCSoft, has secured the global publishing rights for the upcoming tactical first-person shooter (FPS) game DEFECT.
DEFECT is currently being developed by Emptyvessel, an independent game studio based in Austin, Texas. NCSoft previously made a strategic equity investment in the studio in May 2025, establishing a partnership to support the development of the new title.
The game is being built using Unreal Engine 5 and is planned as a multi-platform release including PC. Set in a dystopian city controlled by artificial intelligence, DEFECT features squad-based PvP combat in which four teams, each consisting of four players, compete simultaneously.
Through the partnership, the two companies plan to expand the game’s content and services for the global market, including the development of new features such as a single-player experience.
Emptyvessel was founded in 2023 by a group of veteran developers who have contributed to numerous globally successful AAA titles, including Doom, Quake, Call of Duty, The Last of Us, Borderlands, Tomb Raider, and Uncharted. The studio aims to create high-quality original intellectual property by leveraging its extensive experience in FPS and action-adventure game development.
Emanuel Palalic, CEO of Emptyvessel, said the partnership represents an important step toward bringing the new shooter to players worldwide.
“We believe NCSoft’s support will strengthen the creative foundation for expanding the game, including the addition of a single-player experience,” Palalic said.
Junghee Jin, CEO of NC America, noted that DEFECT’s tactical close-quarters gameplay has strong potential to succeed in the highly competitive global FPS market.
“We have worked closely with the core development team since the early stages of development, and through this publishing partnership we plan to provide even stronger support to the studio,” Jin said.
More information about DEFECT can be found on the official Emptyvessel website and on Steam.
