O'ol Blue

O'ol Blue Inc., a South Korean game developer, was founded in 2013 and later became known as Nimble Neuron. Pitchbook mentions a founding year of 2003 for O'ol Blue and 2013 for Nimble Neuron, while other sources point to 2012 or 2013 for the original entity. The company's CEO is Nam Seok Kim, who was also associated with the original O'ol Blue Inc. and is a signatory of the Agile Manifesto. The entity known as Nimble Neuron was formed through a merger between Archbears, the developers of the original "Black Survival," and O'ol Blue, the creators of "Hunter's League". Based in Seongnam, South Korea, the company operates as a developer of mobile and PC games, focusing on core genres.

Nimble Neuron's business model is centered on developing and publishing free-to-play games with in-app purchases and optional downloadable content (DLC), such as starter packs that unlock additional characters. The company has received venture capital funding, including a significant $9.1 million investment in December 2020 from investors like Neptune (Entertainment Software) and Union Investment Partners. O'ol Blue was eventually acquired by Neptune.

The company's flagship product is "Eternal Return," a multiplayer game that combines elements of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), battle royale, and survival genres. Released on Steam in early access on October 14, 2020, the game pits players against each other on the fictional Lumia Island, where they must search, craft, hunt, and fight to be the last one standing. The game features a 2.5D isometric perspective and a diverse roster of characters, each with unique abilities. The development of "Eternal Return" was heavily influenced by community feedback, with numerous alpha and beta tests involving thousands of players before its early access launch. The game is a 3D evolution of the company's earlier 2D title, "Black Survival," designed to create a more immersive and spectator-friendly experience. Other games developed under the O'ol Blue and Nimble Neuron banners include "Hunter's League," a mobile fantasy RPG, and "Nano Legends," a 3D tower rush game.

Keywords: Nimble Neuron, O'ol Blue, Eternal Return, battle royale, MOBA, survival game, free-to-play, Nam Seok Kim, South Korean game developer, PC gaming, Steam, mobile games, Hunter's League, Black Survival, Neptune Corp, Kakao Games, multiplayer online survival arena, game development, video game publisher, esports, GaaS