The Nintendo Switch is rapidly establishing itself as a prominent platform within the Korean video game industry, positioning itself to significantly impact the global gaming market. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – The Nintendo Switch is rapidly establishing itself as a prominent platform within the Korean video game industry, positioning itself to significantly impact the global gaming market.
One compelling example of this trend is the success of “Dave the Diver,” a marine adventure game developed by Nexon, which made its debut on October 26. Shortly after its release, the game achieved an impressive third-place ranking in sales on the Nintendo e-shop in Japan. This remarkable feat marks the highest ranking ever achieved by a Korean-made Nintendo Switch game, outshining even the likes of “Suika Game” (Watermelon Game) and “Super Mario Bros. Wonder,” the latest addition to Nintendo’s beloved Super Mario franchise.
“Dave the Diver” has been a sensation since its early access phase in October of last year, and its full release in June. The game has amassed a staggering 2 million copies sold worldwide, solely on the PC platform until last month. Nexon had been promoting the Nintendo Switch version of “Dave the Diver” since last year’s G-STAR gaming exhibition, even before the official release of the PC version.
Neowiz, a company dedicated to nurturing the indie game ecosystem, has also exhibited a keen interest in the Nintendo Switch platform. In 2021, Neowiz launched the Korean indie game “Skull: The Hero Slayer” on the Nintendo Switch platform and is set to release a Switch version of “SANABI: The Revenant” this month. Not to be left behind, NCsoft will introduce its new battle action game, “Battle Crush,” to the Nintendo Switch platform next year, alongside its already established presence on PC and mobile platforms. Gravity released its latest game, “Wetory,” on the Nintendo Switch just last month, and Line Games is actively developing “Genesis War: Gray Remnant” for this platform.
Nexon’s ‘Dave the Diver’ achieved an impressive third-place ranking in sales on the Nintendo e-shop in Japan. (Photo: a screenshot from Nintendo eShop)
The Nintendo Switch, initially released by Nintendo in 2017, stands out as a versatile gaming device. While fundamentally a portable gaming console, it distinguishes itself by seamlessly transitioning to high-resolution gameplay when connected to a TV through a charging dock.
One of the Nintendo Switch’s notable strengths is its immense popularity among domestic audiences in Korea. It has gained significant traction due to its relatively affordable pricing, portability, and a robust lineup of flagship titles designed to cater to a younger demographic.
According to the “2023 Game User Survey” published by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KCCA), an impressive 64.1 percent of console gamers (with multiple responses permitted) designated Nintendo as their preferred console series, surpassing PlayStation at 52.3 percent and Xbox at 17.8 percent. In contrast to PlayStation and Xbox, which often spotlight “triple-A” blockbusters, the Nintendo Switch platform shines with a wide array of indie games developed by small and medium-sized game companies. This is due to the platform’s somewhat reduced performance compared to consoles of the same generation, offset by its exceptional portability, allowing for gaming experiences anytime and anywhere.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
