Project Xcloud
Microsoft partners with SK Telecom on 5G-based cloud gaming in South Korea
“Partnerships, like the one we announced with SK Telecom today, are critical to continuing that trajectory and moving the gaming industry forward”
Global Expansion
Virtuos expands with new offices in Montreal and South Korea
"As we continue our global expansion plan and open new offices around the world our mission remains focused on creating great games”
New Partnerships
Tencent Cloud chases new partners in South Korea and Southeast Asia as it plots international growth
The division has set a goal for five-fold international revenue growth
Global Advertising
The top global game advertisers in the US, Japan and South Korea for June 2019
SocialPeta data shows which games are generating the highest number of ad impressions
No Sale
Update: South Korea's Nexon no longer up for sale following lack of buyers
CEO Jungju Kim apparently wasn't impressed by the list of companies who stepped forward
G-star
East meets West at G-STAR 2019, Asia's largest game exhibition in Busan, Korea, on November 14-17th - early bird registration now open!
Join over 2,000 trade visitors from 36 countries and nearly 700 exhibitors at Asia’s most accessible show
Nice
South Korea reaches one million 5G users in 69 days
Service took 80 days to reach the same number for 4G
East Meets West
East Meets West: Hong Kong region focus, final bids submitted for Nexon acquisition, and analysis on China's hyper-casual market
Keeping up with the news from the world's most influential games market
Nexon Acquisition Battle
Netmarble, Kakao and others submit final bids for Nexon
KKR & Co, Bain Capital and MBK Partners also join the fray, but there's no direct deal from Tencent
Korea
South Korean government is split over the WHO’s decision to classify Gaming Disorder
The Ministry of Welfare and Ministry of Culture bash heads over the WHO decision
East Meets West
East Meets West: Google restricts Huawei Android access, Gravity lifts GungHo, and Netmarble has a new flagship game
Keeping up with the news from the world's most influential games market
Investor Funds
Animoca Brands raises $2.5 million for blockchain games platform The Sandbox
Company also secures deal with South Korea’s Kakao
Financials
Gravity and Puzzle & Dragons spur on GungHo sales to $318m in Q1 2019
Developer Gravity riding high on Ragnarok M success
Financial Declines
For the first time since launch Lineage 2 is no longer Netmarble’s biggest sales driver
Blade & Soul Revolution generated more revenue than any of the publisher’s other games in Q1 2019
Global Top Round
2019 Global Top Round accelerator opens call for applications
Applications are open from May 20th to July 5th
East Meets West
East Meets West: Sony and Microsoft team up on cloud gaming, Rockstar buys Dhruva, and Indonesia is world's fastest-growing market
Keeping up with the news from the world's most influential games market
Mobile Future
NCSoft wants more from its legacy RPG franchises on mobile as sales decline
Mobile still makes up more than half of the company's sales
Korea Stars
Brawl Stars takes $50 million in South Korea
Total global sales to date reach an estimated $230m
Season 2
Supercell partners with South Korean TV network OGN for Clash Royale League
Handling production in the West and Asia
New Opportunities
SK Telecom partners with Microsoft on 5G, AI and cloud technologies
SK Telecom will adopt Microsoft 365 secure solution
Financial
MapleStory and Dungeon & Fighter shatter expectations to drive Nexon’s Q1 2019 results
Nexon predicts further growth as it heads into the next quarter
Live And Kicking
Four years on: Netmarble on how Marvel Future Fight has continued to assemble fans
"In order to compete with other games, the title should be as fun as if it only came out yesterday"
Loss
South Korea economy could lose over $9 billion once the WHO names gaming addiction a disease
Stigmatising gaming addicts could cost the industry trillions of KRW
Crucial Year
Hatch on game subscriptions and streaming: "We’re basically opening up the floodgates of creativity"
CCO Vesa Jutila discusses the company's big partnerships and even bigger plans
East Meets West
East Meets West: Chinese regulator starts approving new games, China debates long working hours, and Perfect World is world's top grosser
Keeping up with the news from the world's most influential games market
Korea
South Korean FTC will carry out an “extensive review” of consumer regulations
The antitrust body wants to combat games taking advantage of children spending money they don't have
East Meets West
East Meets West: Tencent could be launch a gaming phone, and how China and South Korea are driving Eve online into the future
Keeping up with the news from the world's most influential games market
Mobile Star
Supercell’s Brawl Stars is making $50 million a month
Sales pass $200 million to date
Develop Reboot
China and South Korea are driving Eve Online into the future
"I have Eve Echoes in my pocket. It is like an artefact from the future"
East Meets West
East Meets West: Game of Thrones joins latest China game approvals, and Hatch partners with Samsung on 5G
Keeping up with the news from the world's most influential games market
Hatch A Plan
Hatch partners with Samsung to bring 5G games service to South Korea
Hatch Premium will be included with any purchase of Samsung’s Galaxy S10 5G in the country
3g 4g 5g More
SK Telecom introduces new 5G data plan that includes exclusive games and promotions
Firm states that new 5G network will utilise its 34,000 5G base stations across the country
Eastern Stars
Is Brawl Stars set to knock it out the park in China as Supercell’s latest billion-dollar success?
An analysis of the online multiplayer shooter's Western and Eastern performance
Asia Roundup
East Meets West: The battle to acquire Nexon heats up, and Nintendo is wary of looking greedy on mobile
Keeping up with the news from the world's most influential games market
Acquisition Battle
Nexon shortlists five bidders including Kakao and Tencent
Formal bidding process starts in early April
Bidding Battle
Report: EA, Amazon and Comcast all submit acquisition bids for publisher Nexon
New challengers join a growing collection of suitors
Nexon-marble
Netmarble on Nexon acquisition: "With some leverage we could do the funding ourselves"
Been execs remain coy on exactly how a deal might be structured
The Saga Continues
Tencent joins Netmarble consortium in bid for Nexon
Deal could be made official as soon as February 21st
Maple
Maplestory M’s massive success is only part of Nexon’s record-setting financial results
Nexon’s highest full-year performance across both PC and Mobile made FY2018 one of the publisher’s strongest years to date
China Vs South Korea
South Korea’s Kakao considers $9bn Nexon bid
Potentially one of the companies biggest acquisitions
Nex-marble
Netmarble forming consortium to acquire Nexon
Serious contender for $9bn-valued publisher
Say What?
Report: Nexon put up for sale as founder and controlling stakeholder exits
Total 98.64 per cent stake owned by Kim Jung-ju up for grabs, it seems
Soulful
Netmarble’s Blade and Soul Revolution tops iOS grossing charts in South Korea one day after launch
The MMORPG will launch globally in 2019
Big Indie Pitch
Brawl Quest becomes the final Big Indie Pitch champion of 2018
We check out the top 3 prize winners at this years Big Indie Pitch at G-STAR 18
Event
The Big Indie Awards this week!
Join us at G-STAR in Korea to find out the winners, plus two Indie Pitches and one sweet party
Mmo Mania
NCSoft's 2019 plans include new Lineage, Alon and Blade & Soul mobile titles
Korean publisher revealed five new titles it hopes will lead growth next year
G-star 2018
Meet Pocket Gamer and Jagex Partners at G-STAR
We’ll be at the Korea show with the Big Indie Awards, a Big Indie Pitch and a sweet PG Party
G-star 2018
Indies: Sign up now to be part of G-STAR's Indie Game Zone in November
Limited space available, register now to not miss out
Region Focus
Region Focus: The opportunities and challenges facing South Korea’s lucrative games industry
In-depth analysis of the sector with comment from executives at Netmarble, Com2uS and Pearl Abyss
Indie Focus
How the Busan Indie Connect Festival is connecting developers with consumers
Event director Dustin Lee gives us the lowdown on the show