Visitors are experiencing indie games at PlayX4, a gaming exhibition that opened at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
GOYANG, South Korea, May 22 (Korea Bizwire) – The PlayX4 2025 gaming expo, one of South Korea’s largest gaming events, opened Thursday at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, with major participation from domestic and international developers.
Running through May 25, the four-day event is hosted by the Gyeonggi provincial government and co-organized by the Gyeonggi Content Agency and KINTEX.
Centered around console and indie titles, this year’s expo features prominent South Korean companies including Neowiz, Nimble Neuron, Daewon Media, and Smilegate, as well as global giants such as Supercell Korea, Blizzard Entertainment, and Bandai Namco Entertainment Korea.
The event includes a wide range of interactive attractions—from board and arcade game zones to cosplay contests and stage programs—designed to immerse fans and families alike.
Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon, speaking at the opening ceremony, remarked, “They say Gyeonggi is becoming known as ‘Game-ggi,’ reflecting our region’s role as the heart of Korea’s gaming industry. Gaming is no longer just entertainment—it’s emerging as a key driver of Korea’s future economy.”
Smilegate returned for the third year in a row with its largest-ever booth, built around its game platform STOVE. The publisher is showcasing seven titles, including Claire Obscur: Expedition 33, Storm Maid, Six Star Gate: Stargazer, V.E.D.A: The Awakening of Souls, Archetype Blue, If Sunset, and Alleyway.
Visitors are taking photos of cosplay models at the Neowiz booth during PlayX4, a gaming exhibition that has opened at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Neowiz is drawing attention with a booth centered on its popular mobile title Brown Dust 2, while also promoting upcoming releases like Hello Seoul: Itaewon Chapter, Shape of Dreams, and indie hits Sanabi and Skul.
Bandai Namco Korea is presenting a special preview of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, the much-anticipated sequel to the global hit, ahead of its worldwide release on May 30. Attendees can also try hands-on demos of upcoming titles like Little Nightmares III, Tamagotchi Wonder Shop, Shadow Labyrinth, and Patapon 1+2: RePlay.
Polish studio CD Projekt Red joined the Bandai Namco booth to mark the 10th anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, while Niantic attracted crowds with its augmented reality-based Monster Hunter Now.
Visitors experience arcade games at PlayX4, the gaming expo that opened on May 22 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
Shin Won-chul, CEO of Codename Bomb and developer of the indie title Archetype Blue, said the event offered both fan engagement and business opportunities. “This is my third year exhibiting at PlayX4, and partnering with a strong publisher this time has been especially meaningful,” he said.
As South Korea’s gaming sector continues to grow, PlayX4 underscores the country’s ambition to lead in both gaming culture and industry innovation.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
