Nexon's 'Kazan' Captivates TGA, Raising Expectations for Global Success

Global Simultaneous Launch on March 28 Next Year
Voice Actor Sung Woo-jin Shares Behind-the-Scenes Stories from the Recording Studio

Nexon has confirmed the release date of the highly anticipated hardcore action RPG, First Berserker: Kazan, for March next year, marking the beginning of its full-scale global market expansion. In particular, the new trailer revealed at The Game Awards 2024 (TGA) highlighted Kazan's unique action elements, significantly raising expectations for the game.

According to Nexon on the 27th, Kazan will be simultaneously released domestically and globally on March 28 next year for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Players can choose between a physical and digital Standard Edition and a digital Deluxe Edition.

Purchasing the Standard Edition grants an in-game item set called the ‘Fallen Star Armor Set,’ while the Deluxe Edition offers the ‘Hero’s Weapon Set,’ ‘Hero’s Armor Set,’ a digital artbook, and an early access opportunity to play Kazan 72 hours before the official launch.

Prior to this, a trial version allowing players to experience the early part of the game will be available starting from the 17th of next month. Having proven its quality through multiple showcases at major domestic and international game shows and technical closed beta tests, the goal is to provide more gamers with early-stage gameplay experience to enjoy the intricately designed action combat.

On the 12th, Kazan became a hot topic with a 3D hologram projection above the Peacock Theater, the venue for TGA. The bold graphics befitting a berserker and the dark, mysterious atmosphere amplified by the hologram captivated visitors passing by. Additionally, large-scale outdoor advertisements featuring Kazan and other games based on the Dungeon & Fighter IP were displayed around the theater, signaling the expansion of the Dungeon & Fighter universe.

At that time, Nexon also unveiled a new trailer. The trailer was directed by the Russo brothers (Anthony and Joe Russo) of AGBO Studio, renowned for producing major global blockbuster films. They reinterpreted the dynamic battle against the ‘Viper’ legion, a boss encounter in the game, with their distinctive cinematic style.

During the trailer’s premiere, the official live broadcast peaked at 1.22 million concurrent viewers. International media praised it as a "cinematic that leads us into the intense and rugged world of Kazan," and described it as a "trailer that left a very deep impression."

The making-of video released on the 18th featured Ben Starr, who voices the protagonist Kazan, along with key voice actors and the voice director, sharing introductions and behind-the-scenes stories about their characters. Voice director Justine Villiers explained, “Everyone needed to fully understand their characters before starting work, so we made sure everyone was on the same page regarding style and tone.”

Since the game is a single-package title centered on a brutal revenge story, efforts were made to maximize empathy for the characters and situations. For example, the character ‘Blade Phantom’ was given a unique voice by combining multiple tones?from deep and low to high?reflecting the coexistence of several personalities, emphasizing a complex relationship of conflict and occasional cooperation with Kazan.

Through Kazan, Nexon plans to present immersive narratives and characters while expanding the multiverse setting based on the Dungeon & Fighter Universe. Yoon Myung-jin, CEO of Neople and head of Kazan’s development, stated, “We will continue refining the game until just before release to deliver a highly polished play experience showcasing Kazan’s unique hardcore action.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.