This image provided by Netmarble Corp. shows its blockchain game “Modoo Marble 2: Metaworld”
SEOUL, April 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Most play-to-earn (P2E) games cannot be accessed or downloaded in South Korea due to regulations. However, they still offer support for the Korean language.
Netmarble Corp., a major South Korean game developer and publisher, on Wednesday released its blockchain game “Modoo Marble 2: Metaworld” in the global market for both mobile and PC platforms.
Unfortunately, the game is not available in the domestic app market, and downloading the PC version requires the use of virtual private networks.
The Game Industry Promotion Act prohibits the exchange or solicitation of exchange of game points, souvenirs, and game money for cash.
As a result, domestic game companies prevent new games from being downloaded or accessed in the domestic market when they are released.
Despite these regulations, “Modoo Marble 2″ offers Korean language support for sound, interface, and the event guide page.
Other blockchain games, such as Wemade Co.’s “MIR4 Global” and “MIR M Global,” and Kakao Games Corp.’s “Arche World,” also have Korean language interfaces, despite being blocked from domestic access.
“Blockchain games offer Korean language services for the convenience of Korean users living in foreign countries or other users using the Korean language,” an industry official said.
Another factor behind the increase in the number of P2E games that support the Korean language despite not being available in South Korea is the expectation that regulations will be eased.
In September last year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism inaugurated a P2E game task force in collaboration with the Game Rating and Administrative Agency and the Korea Association of Game Industry to discuss whether or not to allow such games.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
The games are not illegal for Koreans to play. It is not against the law to create NFT or blockchain games in Korea. It is illegal to publish a game without an age rating and it is the agency that gives the age rating that refuses to give the games a rating. This is why they allow them to still run servers out of Korea for Koreans.