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EA Blocks Microtransactions in Korea for New Soccer Game Amid Regulatory Crackdown

EA Blocks Microtransactions in Korea for New Soccer Game Amid Regulatory Crackdown

SEOUL, July 18 (Korea Bizwire) — In a direct response to South Korea’s strengthened gaming regulations, U.S. game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) has disabled microtransaction features for Korean users of its upcoming soccer title, “FC 26,” making it one of only two countries—alongside Russia—facing such restrictions. According to industry sources on Thursday, EA has blocked [...]

South Korean Game Association Warns of “Sovereignty Threat” Over Tencent’s Reported Bid for Nexon

South Korean Game Association Warns of “Sovereignty Threat” Over Tencent’s Reported Bid for Nexon

SEOUL, June 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Game Society issued a strongly worded statement on Monday, condemning reports of a potential takeover bid by Chinese tech giant Tencent for South Korean gaming powerhouse Nexon, framing the move as a threat to national industrial sovereignty rather than a routine business transaction. Describing the reported acquisition [...]

Microsoft Faces Backlash Over Korean Market Neglect in Game Releases

Microsoft Faces Backlash Over Korean Market Neglect in Game Releases

SEOUL, April 25, (Korea Bizwire) — Microsoft is once again under fire from South Korean gamers over what many are calling continued neglect of the country’s gaming market, following the surprise global release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered — a launch that excluded South Korea entirely. Released at midnight on April 23 (KST) [...]

South Korean Game Developer Fined for Misleading Loot Box Odds

South Korean Game Developer Fined for Misleading Loot Box Odds

SEOUL, April 15, (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s antitrust regulator has penalized a domestic game developer for deceiving players about the odds of winning in-game items, marking a rare move to regulate deceptive practices in the booming online gaming sector. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) announced on Monday that it has imposed a corrective [...]

South Korean Game Industry Rebounds With Blockbuster Titles Across Mobile and PC/Console Platforms

South Korean Game Industry Rebounds With Blockbuster Titles Across Mobile and PC/Console Platforms

SEOUL, April 9 (Korea Bizwire) — After a challenging year dominated by Chinese titles, South Korea’s game industry is showing signs of renewed momentum as a string of high-performing new releases finds success across both mobile and PC/console platforms. According to data from Mobile Index, Netmarble’s RF Online Next, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game [...]

AI Emerges as Growth Driver in Gaming Industry, Cutting Development Time

AI Emerges as Growth Driver in Gaming Industry, Cutting Development Time

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Korea Bizwire) — Generative AI is becoming a crucial growth engine in the gaming industry, significantly reducing development time for major game companies, according to a new industry analysis. The KDB Future Strategy Research Institute’s Industrial Technology Research Center reported on January 29 that gaming companies are actively implementing AI-based development tools and leveraging [...]

Samsung Partners with Nexon to Develop Advanced 3D Gaming Technology

Samsung Partners with Nexon to Develop Advanced 3D Gaming Technology

SEOUL, Jan. 20  (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics has announced a strategic partnership with Nexon Korea and its subsidiary Neople to develop cutting-edge 3D gaming technology that doesn’t require special glasses, the company said on January 19. The collaboration centers on optimizing Nexon’s upcoming game “First Berserker: Khazan” for Samsung’s Odyssey 3D gaming monitor. The partnership [...]

Gaming Craze Cools in South Korea as Pandemic Boom Fades

Gaming Craze Cools in South Korea as Pandemic Boom Fades

SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Korea Bizwire) – The percentage of South Koreans who play video games has dropped below 60% for the first time in a decade, marking a significant decline from its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic when nearly three-quarters of the population were gaming. According to a new survey released on December 16 by the [...]

Korean Game Companies Battle for Dominance in Top-Down Combat Genre

Korean Game Companies Battle for Dominance in Top-Down Combat Genre

SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Korea Bizwire) – Major gaming companies are intensifying their competition in the top-down perspective combat game market, with several high-profile titles scheduled for release around 2025, all emphasizing real-time player-versus-player combat and cross-platform gameplay.  According to industry sources on November 2, Krafton will showcase its upcoming title “Project Arc” at G-STAR, Korea’s largest [...]

Korean Game Developers Break Into Console Market, Signaling Industry Shift

Korean Game Developers Break Into Console Market, Signaling Industry Shift

SEOUL, Jun. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – In a notable turn for South Korea’s videogame industry, long dominated by mobile and online multiplayer titles, domestic developers are finding surprising success in the global console market, potentially heralding a new era of diversification and growth.  Shift Up, a rising star in the Korean gaming scene, recently disclosed in [...]