Perhaps the most controversial decision regarding Blade & Soul Neo is its choice to BnS NEO Classic Divine Gems forgo a Steam launch. Instead,it will be available exclusively through NCSoft's proprietary launcher,Purple. While this move allows NCSoft to avoid revenue sharing with third-party platforms like Steam and maintain full control over the user experience and microtransaction ecosystem,it comes with a heavy tradeoff.

Steam is the default PC platform for millions of gamers. Many players are reluctant to use alternative launchers,even well-known ones like the Epic Games Store. If big publishers like Ubisoft and EA have struggled to pull users away from Steam despite enormous franchises,it's hard to imagine Blade & Soul Neo thriving without at least a presence on the platform. In fact,the mere mention of Purple during the press briefing was a reminder for many that it even exists—a sign of just how little mindshare it currently holds.

Andrew Long,senior producer at NC America,acknowledged this challenge during a post-demo Q&A. He emphasized that the team is working to raise awareness of Purple and make onboarding easy for players. But the uphill battle remains. Skipping Steam could significantly hinder Neo's ability to reach the broader MMO market in cheap BnS Classic Divine Gems the West,where discoverability is key.
First Impressions: Visually Stunning,Cautiously Optimistic