KRAFTON has officially started the public recruitment process for key development positions for its upcoming game, ‘TERA 2,’ through its subsidiary Bluehole Studio on the 24th. KRAFTON Chairman Chang Byung-gyu has consistently shown his dedication to the MMORPG genre with titles like ‘TERA’ and ‘ELYON.’ As KRAFTON is currently without a flagship MMORPG, there is a high level of anticipation surrounding ‘TERA 2.’
The recruitment process includes seven major job categories, such as Senior Client Programmer, Senior Action Designer, Client Programmer Lead, as well as Lead and Senior roles for Character, Background, and VFX Artists. This move indicates that the company is securing essential talent to lay the groundwork for the game, moving beyond the initial planning stage.
In the job listing, KRAFTON describes ‘TERA 2’ as a game that builds on the legacy of the original—known for its genre-first non-targeting combat system and impressive graphics—while enhancing it with cutting-edge technology powered by Unreal Engine 5. The company aims to expand on the original’s iconic medium-sized monster combat, focusing on cooperative play that emphasizes teamwork.
For example, the Senior Client Programmer will be responsible for managing multiplayer action synchronization in an Unreal Dedicated Server environment and optimizing AI logic for large-scale combat situations. This role goes beyond implementing features, requiring the precise realization of accurate hit feedback and responsiveness.
The Senior Action Designer will lead the design of combat experiences for monsters and dungeon bosses. Through iterative combat testing and playtesting, they will validate monster patterns, difficulty levels, and combat flow. The main goal is to create party-based cooperative combat that incorporates role distribution, aggro management, and mechanics to offer players an engaging ‘slash-and-dodge’ combat experience.
The ‘TERA 2’ project was initiated under the R&D division led by Bluehole Studio CEO Cho Doo-in. Development of the project is reportedly overseen by Kang Sang-wook, a developer recognized as Bluehole’s ‘Employee No. 1’ (excluding founding members).
Kang, formerly of NCSoft, played a crucial role in the original ‘TERA.’ Following KRAFTON’s success with ‘PUBG: Battlegrounds,’ he has been involved in various projects and recently served as an instructor for KRAFTON’s developer training program, ‘Jungle,’ where he focused on mentoring aspiring talent.
Meanwhile, the original ‘TERA,’ released in January 2011, was a groundbreaking title that introduced the excitement of non-targeting MMORPGs to the local market. Although it gained significant global popularity, its domestic service came to an end on June 30, 2022.
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