Publisher Netmarble has acquired a 25.71 per cent stake in Big Hit Entertainment for $190 million.
The company is the label behind K-pop group BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, a popular band in South Korea. Netmarble’s stake makes it the second largest shareholder in the label.
Ready to pop
The publisher aims to launch a new mobile game called BTS World, in which players can manage and train up the band themselves.
Netmarble said in a statement that it hopes to create a new genre of games “created in collaboration with Korean pop culture and entertainment”, which suggests more similar titles could be on the way.
A Big Hit Entertainment spokesperson said through financial and business support from Netmarble, it hopes to become a more stable company and grow its entertainment business.
