Korean MMO behemoth NCsoft has posted some recession-busting numbers in its latest financial report for the quarter ending June 30th.

Total net income grew an amazing 451 per cent compared to the same period in 2008, reaching $27m. In addition, operating profit rocketed to $38.1m – a 353 per cent increase year-on-year. Sales were up, too, climbing 70 per cent to $111m.

The driving force behind the numbers was the ongoing success that is Aion: Tower of Eternity, which released in Japan and Taiwan last month and will arrive in Europe on September 25th.

In total Aion accounted for 34 per cent of NCsoft’s sales. Lineage 2 claimed 31 per cent and Lineage 23 per cent.

South Korea remains the firm’s most lucrative region, accounting for 57 per cent of its total sales. Europe accounted for just three per cent and North America eight per cent.

NCsoft has raised its operating profit guidance for the year by 80 per cent to $144.4m and now expects revenue to reach $470m – a 17 per cent increase.