Lost Ark western release planned for 2020, after Japan launch

Right now, saying that the Lost Ark western release is planned for 2020 is as reliable as stating that Lost Ark will release after Earth implodes. However, some new info has surfaced that could finally show us the light at the end of the tunnel.

This new piece of information apparently originated from G-Star 2019, with Korean news portals interviewing the CEO of Smilegate, Kwon Hyuk-Bin. These portals questioned him about the Lost Ark release in North America, Europe, and SEA, territories where it is pretty much a given fact that the game is going to appear in.

Lost Ark Western Release | North America, Europe, and South-East Asia in 2020

The news was conveyed by Gamex, attributing the following statement to Smilegate's CEO:

“We will continue to expand rapidly into the global market after the launch in Japan. Next year, when overseas expansion begins in a serious way, the company’s value and profitability are expected to increase significantly. In addition to the globalization of Lost Ark and intellectual property franchises, the goal is to be ready to become the leading developers next year.”

So, Lost Ark is coming to North America and Europe in 2020, that much we can assume from the goal of serious overseas expansion. Besides, there were mentions of Lost Ark for consoles and mobile devices, rumors that are now gaining strength.

Smilegate seems to have a bigger plan that isn't limited to Lost Ark. Another interesting tidbit coming from G-Star 2019 was that the studio is planning on “creating a new generation blockbuster, which can get a more global response than Lost Ark.” So, are they considering a second MMORPG with a more global appeal, whatever that may be?

We do know that Smilegate is also working on the next CrossFire games, the long-awaited sequel to one of the most popular shooters in Asia. The studio enlisted the help of Remedy Entertainment, the renowned developers that recently released Control to wide acclaim. Remedy is in charge of the story mode for CrossFire X (releasing in 2020 on Xbox One) and CrossFire HD, a tantalizing prospect considering the studio's track record, which includes Max Payne, Alan Wake, Quantum Break, and the aforementioned Control.

Let's hope that the Lost Ark western release is effectively happening, because with every year that passes, the hype dies a little. You can check the Lost Ark release date breakdown to know what is going on worldwide with the anticipated MMORPG.