The development team Neople, behind action RPG The First Berserker: Khazan has reportedly been reassigned under parent company Nexon following disappointing sales, just days after the game received praise from the CEO for its performance. It’s important to note that The First Berserker: Khazan should not be confused with other Dungeon & Fighter spin-offs or related titles.

According to a report from Korean outlet Yonhap News on April 8, Nexon confirmed that Neople staff have been moved to other projects to leverage their experience. While the developer maintains that the team has not been fully dissolved, the future of The First Berserker: Khazan—which saw its latest update on 31 March—remains uncertain. Nexon has yet to provide further clarification on the game’s long-term plans.

Strong Reviews, Underwhelming Sales

Despite receiving positive reviews from both critics and players, The First Berserker: Khazan fell short of Nexon’s sales expectations. During a recent earnings call, the company noted that the game achieved its goal of introducing the Dungeon & Fighter IP to a Western audience but underperformed in revenue. CEO Junghun Lee had previously praised the title as a “strategic first step” for global expansion and hinted at a future launch in China, a delay that may have contributed to its commercial struggles.

In the March 31 capital markets briefing, Nexon emphasised Khazan’s role in broader publishing agreements with Tencent, alongside other high-potential games such as The Finals and ARC Raiders, intended to reach millions of players in China. However, sales metrics indicate that the strategy has not yet paid off as expected.

A Murky Future

The reassignment of Neople staff leaves fans and industry watchers questioning whether a sequel or continued updates for Khazan are likely. Many had noted the game’s strong combat mechanics paired with inconsistent level design—elements that a follow-up could have refined.

Nexon is now focusing on upcoming projects, including Project Overkill, described as “an online action RPG for PC and console which fully modernises combat physics, visuals, and overall presentation while reinterpreting Dungeon & Fighter’s iconic raids, dungeons, and cooperative play.” Comparisons to Nexon’s Vindictus: Defying Fate suggest the new project may appeal to fans of fast-paced, skill-based action combat rather than replicating Khazan’s formula.

For action RPG enthusiasts, the news serves as a reminder that even well-reviewed titles can struggle commercially, and that studio restructuring is often the first step in shifting development priorities.